Gunshot residue found on accused's clothes, court told
Gunshot residue was found on a sweatshirt and jeans confiscated from a man accused of shooting two people, a jury heard.One particle of the residue was found on the front outside of the sweatshirt that Sanchey Grant was wearing when he was arrested two-and-a-half hours after the attack at Southside cinema.Another was found on the outside of the sweatshirt, on the back. The evidence came from gunshot residue [GSR] expert Keena Zitkovich, who gave evidence at Supreme Court yesterday.She also testified that there was one particle on the front outside of blue jeans confiscated from Mr Grant after his arrest, and another in the pockets.Mr Grant, 20, was arrested by police along with Jahmel Blakeney, 30, the alleged mastermind of the shooting, after Mr Blakeney sped in a jeep through a police roadblock set up after the shooting late on November 13 2009. Mr Grant was lying back in the reclined front passenger seat of the jeep. A number of items were seized from the vehicle by police including a pair of gloves from the front passenger-side floor.Ms Zitkovich found three particles of GSR on the back of the right-hand glove.A navy blue windbreaker jacket was also found on the right rear passenger seat. Ms Zitkovich found two GSR particles on the outside back of that.She explained that GSR particles, which are invisible, are emitted from a gun when it is fired.They are comprised of three elements that melt together when the gun is fired; lead, barium and antimony.GSR can land on the shooter, plus nearby people and objects. They can also be transferred between people and objects if they come into contact with each otherIn addition to the GSR particles found on the glove, jeans, and jacket, a number of other items were found by the expert to have one or two of the component elements of GSR on them.Those items were on the outside of a green bag seized by police from Mr Grant’s bedroom, a GSR swab done on the back of his left hand after his arrest and the left hand of the pair of gloves.The trial heard evidence on Tuesday that a dog trained to sniff out explosives and firearms alerted the police to the bag when they searched Mr Grant’s house.In answer to a question from prosecutor Cindy Clarke, Ms Zitkovich said: “On the average person, you would not expect to find particles related to the discharge of a firearm.”She said the exceptions would be if the person had recently handled a firearm or was in a profession where they handle them.Ms Zitkovich agreed with Mr Grant’s lawyer, Jerome Lynch QC, that the four particles found on the clothes seized from Mr Grant was a low number.She added: “It is low, but it’s not uncommon.” She agreed with the lawyer that it is not possible to tell how GSR got on to someone.Mr Blakeney and Mr Grant deny charges of attempted murder and gun possession and the case continues.
The ex-girlfriend of a man accused of masterminding a shooting outside a cinema told how they left the venue without watching the film they'd gone to see.
Jalicia Crockwell, 20, said she got “mad” about having to leave the showing of 'Precious,' but did not have any conversation with boyfriend Jahmel Blakeney on the way home.
According to prosecutors, Mr Blakeney, 30, masterminded the attack on fellow cinema goers Shaki Minors and Renee Kuchler.
The couple were left badly hurt when a gunman opened fire on them as they left the movie at Southside Cinema around 11.30pm on November 13 2009.
Sanchey Grant, 20, is on trial alongside Mr Blakeney, accused of being the gunman. Mr Minors believes he and his girlfriend may have been targeted by Parkside because of his associations with rival group 42.
He named the two accused men as Parkside associates.
In her opening speech last week, prosecutor Larissa Burgess said the jury would have to consider why Mr Blakeney went to see 'Precious' that night, but left before the movie began.
She alleged: “He had seen Shaki Minors at Southside Cinema and he made the effort to drive back to town and drive back to St David's to facilitate the shooting.”
Called as a prosecution witness yesterday, Ms Crockwell said she travelled to the cinema with Mr Blakeney in his sister's black car and she bought tickets for the movie, which was on after 9pm.
She said they left “not long” afterwards, and did not watch the film. “Why did you leave?” inquired prosecutor Cindy Clarke.
Ms Crockwell replied: “I don't know.” She said that when she and her boyfriend got back in the car, she was listening to her iPod and texting a female friend on the phone, and she had no conversation with him on the drive home.
“How about you, how did you feel?” asked the prosecutor.
“I was mad because we left,” replied Ms Crockwell. Asked how her boyfriend looked, she replied: “He looked like he didn't care.”
She explained that they went back to her house in Pembroke, where she got out of the car and Mr Blakeney left, telling her he was going to get some food.
According to her, she called him later “to see where my food was” and he replied to say he was bringing it.
She also told the jury she knew Mr Grant, who was a family friend, and he came to her home around 15 minutes after she arrived back there. He left while she was taking a shower.
Ms Crockwell said in addition to speaking to Mr Blakeney on the phone, she carried on texting her female friend right up until she went to sleep.
Prosecutor Ms Clarke indicated she plans to go over records of those text messages when the case resumes today.
The jury has heard that Mr Blakeney and Mr Crockwell were spotted by police leaving St David's in a black jeep around two and a half hours after the shooting. They were both arrested.
They deny charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition, and the case continues.
