Witness says he feared being killed if he left gang

The prosecution's first witness in the Clansman - One Don Gang trial yesterday testified that he too was forced to become a gangster and that he had no choice as his life was at risk.

The former top tier gang member, who was the personal driver for the reputed One Don leader Andre 'Blackman' Bryan and the gang's banker, testified during re-examination that he was forced into the criminal entity and gangster lifestyle by Bryan.

"From you a deal wid dem gangsters you caa refuse. Once you refuse you know you ago dead, basically that's it," he said in the Home Circuit Court. Chief Justice Bryan Sykes asked how he came by this view.

"Sir, once you a deal wid gangsters a Jamaica and anything dem tell you, once you refuse or once you come in contact with dem and anything dem doing and you not with, you are going to be murdered," he replied. When pressed further by the judge, he explained that he was made aware of the gang's modus operandi during "reasonings" with his friend Frazzle, who he said was a member of the gang.

The witness had testified that it was Frazzle who had introduced him to Bryan, and that Frazzle later died when he started drifting away from the gang.

Like the first witness, the second witness, who is also a former top tier member, recently testified that he too was forced into the gang by Bryan and that when he had told Bryan that he was not cut out for the gang lifestyle, the reputed leader said there were only two ways out, the prison or the graveyard.

In the meantime, the witness, who had returned for cross-examination by lawyer Denise Hinson, who is representing Brian Morris, reiterated that he made the decision to help the police put away the gang because he wanted to help Jamaica. He said that his decision was cemented after he overheard gang members, while in custody, plotting to kill a policewoman, who they claim was responsible for their arrest.

The witness previously told the court that he subsequently decided that he no longer wanted to be part of the gang and notified the police of the plan. The witness is to complete his re-examination on Thursday when the trial resumes.