A teenage associate of the Parkside gang was shot and injured on a busy street by the 42 gang in revenge for a murder, a prosecutor alleged.

J'Dun Thompson was 16 years old when he became the first victim of the violence on Court Street, Pembroke, at 9 a.m. last May 23.

He ran into a shop for shelter after gunman emerged from a car and opened fire, wounding him in the foot. The gunman chased him inside, then shot and wounded a father and son who were working in the store.

The owner of the alleged getaway vehicle, 26-year-old Cervio Cox, is on trial at Supreme Court accused of conspiracy to murder and wounding, although he is not alleged to have been the shooter.

Opening the case against Cox yesterday, prosecutor Robert Welling explained to the jury: "The prosecution allege that 42, and another group of men calling themselves Parkside, at that time had got themselves into serious conflict that developed over time."

He explained that the Court Street area of Pembroke "is considered to be Parkside territory" and J'Dun Thompson "is associated with Parkside and Middletown, an offshoot of Parkside who are friendly with them".

Meanwhile, said Mr. Welling, the group known as 42nd or 42 inhabits the St Monica's Road area of Pembroke. Two men associated with 42, Kenwandee Robinson and Mikey Adams, had been shot on St. Monica's the afternoon before.

Mr. Adams, said by prosecutors to be Cox's cousin, was injured, and Mr. Robinson was killed.

"The associates of 42 believed the killing of Kenwandee Robinson and wounding of Mikey Adams was the responsibility of Parkside and it's this belief, we say, that led to the revenge shooting that morning on Court Street," said Mr. Welling.

He continued: "Court Street and its environs is considered Parkside territory so it's the prosecution's case that it was no accident that morning that Court Street was the venue and J'Dun Thompson was singled out as the target."

Mr. Thompson gave evidence yesterday in the form of a statement read out by prosecutor Larissa Burgess. He described being targeted by the shooter who emerged from a greyish-blue car and opened fire on him as he stood on Court Street waiting for some food he'd ordered.

He was hit in the foot by a bullet but managed to run into the nearby C&R Discount store for shelter. The gunman chased him inside and shot owner Raymond Burgess Sr., now 68, and his son Raymond Burgess Jr., now 31, as Mr. Thompson ran into the basement.

Mr. Thompson, now 17, suffered a gunshot wound to his foot. Mr. Burgess Sr. suffered a bullet wound to his thigh and his son suffered a wound to the elbow. The shooter made off from the scene in the blue car.

Mr. Welling told the jury that although eyewitness descriptions of the shooter "clearly" do not match Cox, there was also a driver and passenger in the blue car, which is registered as belonging to Cox.

"It's the prosecution's case that Cervio Cox was party to an agreement for the shooting and was either present in the blue car at that time or had lent the car to the shooter and his accomplices in the full knowledge that was about to happen," said Mr. Welling.

He said even though the prosecution does not allege Cox to be the gunman, he is still guilty of the offences he is charged with on the basis of the criminal responsibility of all participants in the shooting.

The jury also heard from Pc Melesia Iris, who attended the hospital the afternoon before as part of the investigation into the shooting of Mr. Adams and Mr. Robinson.

She told how Cox called Mr. Adams' cell phone that afternoon, and she answered it, as she had been handed the phone by a nurse. She said Cox inquired about the welfare of both men and stated that Mr. Adams was his cousin.

Mr. Welling told the jury: "A word of caution none of you can fail to be alarmed and concerned about violence in this Island and you will be aware from the media [that] much of it is gang-related. It would be wrong of you to be prejudiced against Cervio Cox just because he associates with, or might be concerned about, the welfare of people who may be in a gang."

Cox, of Clarendon Road, Smith's, is charged with conspiring with "persons unknown" to murder Mr. Thompson. He's also accused of conspiring to shoot at him with a loaded firearm with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, and wounding him with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He faces further charges of wounding Mr. Burgess Jr. and Mr. Burgess Sr. with intent, and using a firearm to commit those offences.

Cox denies all the charges, and Mr. Welling told the jury: "The defence accept that there was a shooting but they say it does not involve Mr. Cox either as being present or being a knowing participant."

However, the prosecutor said the case against Cox is founded on circumstantial evidence that will lead the jury to conclude he is guilty as charged.