Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Expert links gun to multiple murders and shootings

Antonio Myers, 25, of Pembroke, has been charged with the shooting murder of 30-year-old Kumi Harford. He denies the charge.

One of the guns used to murder Kumi Harford was used in eight other murders and attempted murders, including an attempt to kill his brother, Supreme Court heard.The other gun used in the Harford slaying was linked to two other shooting cases, according to an expert.Prosecutors allege Mr Harford was a high ranking member of the 42 gang, shot dead by Antonio Myers, a high ranking member of the rival Middletown gang, which is allied with the Parkside gang.Mr Myers, 25, of Rambling Lane, Pembroke, is now on trial for murder and using a firearm, both of which he denies.The jury has previously heard that Dennis McGuire, a firearms and ammunition expert, concluded Mr Harford had been shot by two different guns.After examining a number of .40 calibre bullet cases and a single 9mm bullet found at the scene, Mr McGuire was able to forensically link them to guns used in other shootings too.Most of those involved attacks on members of 42, according to Detective Constable Vernell Burgess of the Serious Crime Unit. Detailing Mr McGuire’s report yesterday, she said the .40 calibre weapon fired at Mr Harford around 5am on December 5 2009 was also used to:lShoot at Daniel Cox in February 2009. Mr Cox was named by Police gang expert Alexander Rollin last week as a member of 42.lMurder Kenwandee Robinson and attempt to murder Michael Adams in May 2009. According to Sgt Rollin, Mr Robinson was a 42 member killed on St Monica’s Road by a member of Parkside, and Mr Adams was a 42 member too.lMurder Perry Puckerin Jr in January 2010. Mr Puckerin was named by Sgt Rollin as a 42 member.lAttempt to murder Kumi Harford’s brother, Jakai Harford, in March 2010. Mr Rollin named Jakai as a “high-ranking” member of 42.lMurder Frederick Maybury in June 2010. Sgt Rollin said he was “on the periphery” of the west-end Money Over Bitches (MOB) gang.lAttempt to murder Kenneth Burrows and Roger Spencer in November 2010. Sgt Rollin could not say whether either of these men were in a gang.Mr McGuire’s report also linked the 9mm firearm used in the Kumi Harford killing to the murder of Shane Minors on December 17 2009, just 12 days later.Sgt Rollin said Mr Minors was “on the periphery of the 42 gang,” although “I wouldn’t have called him a 42 gang member”.The weapon was also used in the attempted murder of David Godwin in February 2010. Mr Godwin was named by Sgt Rollin as a member of 42.The gang expert told the court that 42 and Parkside / Middletown are locked in deadly rivalry.Yesterday, Det Con Burgess agreed with prosecutor Carrington Mahoney that gang members share the same weapons, which they keep in a communal hiding place because they do not have access to multiple guns.She also agreed with Mr Mahoney that the 42 gang are rivals of Parkside and their associates in Middletown. She answered further questions from defence lawyer Jerome Lynch QC by saying 42 are associated with the MOB gang.She said she is not aware of anyone being charged in the other shooting cases.The case continues.l Murder-accused calls his mother as a witness, see Page 2

Mother called as defence witness

A man accused of murder exercised his right not to give evidence, but called his mother as a defence witness yesterday.

Antonio Myers, 25, is said by prosecutors to have shot Kumi Harford, 30, around 5am on December 5 2009.

Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Myers' mother Deborah Maynard, 56, said he sometimes slept on a couch at her home in Rambling Lane, Pembroke. On other occasions he stayed at his girlfriend's house.

She told the jury she got up to use the bathroom around 4.30am on the date of the murder.

“I heard my TV on in the living room so I went down to check the living room and Antonio was laying there on the couch,” said Ms Maynard.

She said she then went to use the bathroom and went back to bed.

However, Ms Maynard was accused of lying by prosecutor Carrington Mahoney.

“You love your son dearly,” he suggested.

“Of course,” she replied.

“Oh yes. And you're here to help him out,” continued the prosecutor.

“I'm here to tell the truth,” replied Ms Maynard.

She agreed she does not really know where her son was at 5am, the time of the alleged killing.

“This story that he was at your house that morning is just a put-together story to help him out,” suggested Mr Mahoney.

“It's true,” insisted the witness.

Prosecutors say Mr Myers is a high ranking member of the Middletown gang, which is allied with Parkside, and Mr Harford was a high ranking member of the rival gang known as 42.

Mr Mahoney quizzed Ms Maynard over her son's alleged gang links.

“Your son is a member of the Parkside / Middletown gang?” he inquired.

“I can't answer that,” replied the witness.

“You don't know?” asked Mr Mahoney.

“No, I don't,” she replied. She agreed he hangs around in the Middletown area but denied he hangs around in the Parkside area.

“You knew he had issues with 42?” inquired Mr Mahoney, causing Ms Maynard to raise her voice as she replied to a series of questions on this topic.

“No I didn't. I don't get involved in that kind of stuff. I'm a hard working woman. I work day and night. I don't get involved in gangs or whatever you call it,” she informed the prosecutor.

“Why are you getting upset Ma'am?” asked Mr Mahoney.

“Because I told you that!” replied Ms Maynard.

She agreed with him that she failed to give a police statement in relation to the murder investigation. Asked by defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher why that was, she replied: “Because I don't trust the police to a certain point.”

Mr Myers denies murder and using a gun and the case continues.