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Judge dismisses killer’s appeal

A gunman who killed one man and seriously injured a second will remain behind bars after judges dismissed his appeal.

In May 2014, Julian Washington was convicted of the premeditated murder of Stefan Burgess and the attempted murder of Davano Brimmer.

He was also found guilty of using a firearm to commit an indictable offence and handling ammunition.

Washington was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars before he could be considered for release on parole.

He launched an appeal against the convictions on four grounds: firstly that two jurors who heard the trial could have been biased and secondly that gang evidence adduced during the trial was “prejudicial rather than probative”.

The third ground of appeal centred around DNA and GSR evidence while Washington’s legal team also argued that the defence’s submission of no case to answer at the end of the prosecution case should have succeeded.

In March, Washington was told that three of the grounds for appeal had been dismissed by the appeal judges, but the jury issue would be explored further.

This week, Appeal Judge Geoffrey Bell told Washington that the last ground of appeal had also been dismissed.

“Although we understand why this ground of appeal was advanced with vigour at the hearing, we consider that its initial attractions have been comprehensively dispelled by the facts that have now emerged from our interview with juror A,” Justice Bell said.

“We are entirely satisfied that any fair minded and informed Bermudian observer, having considered all the facts, would conclude that there was no real possibility that the jury or juror A was biased. We therefore reject this ground for appeal.”

As Washington was led out of the Court of Appeal he shouted: “This is bulls**t.”

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. As we are legally liable for any slanderous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.