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Only victim claims to have seen gunman’s face

Shooting victim Jahrockia Smith-Hassell is the only witness who claims he saw the face of a gunman who opened fired on a teenager in Pembroke, the Supreme Court has heard.Defence lawyer Shade Subair was questioning Detective Constable Carl Neblett, who arrested the defendant in the case, Royunde Stevens-Cyrus, on suspicion of attempted murder.Mr Stevens-Cyrus, 25, has denied the charge, plus the charge of using a firearm in an indictable offence.Mr Smith-Hassell was 16 on the night of March 25, when he was shot three times on Rambling Lane, Pembroke, while he socialised with friends.The court has heard evidence from three others who say they were present when their friend was gunned down just outside his home.In previous evidence, the victim has said he was “100 percent” certain of the shooter’s identity.Asked by Ms Subair: “The only source that professes to have seen the face of the shooter is the complainant?” Det Con Neblett replied: “Correct.”Det Con O’Neil Swaby, another arresting officer, also agreed with Ms Subair that he was not aware of anyone from the case’s investigating team questioning Mr Smith-Hassell on his alcohol and cannabis consumption on the night in question.The court has also heard lengthy testimony from police gang expert Sergeant Alex Rollin.Sgt Rollin yesterday agreed with Crown counsel Kirsty-Ann Kiellor’s suggestion that he was the only person on the Island able to provide expert opinions on the Island’s gangs.Referring to suggestions made by the defence that Mr Smith-Hassell belonged to a Westside gang, Ms Kiellor asked Sgt Rollin his opinion, based on photos that purport to show the complainant making signs of membership with his hands.Sgt Rollin said: “I look at the photos, and knowing what I know about Smith-Hassell, in my opinion, what I saw was kids being kids.”Taking into account their age and the area they were from, he said, they were “kids looking for an identity”.The case continues.