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Bassett found guilty of attempted murder

Photo by Glenn TuckerMarico Bassett

A man accused of a shooting in Somerset was convicted of attempted murder and using a gun today after a retrial at Supreme Court.Marico Bassett, 21, of Sandys, shot Randy Lightbourne in broad daylight outside the parking lot of the Charing Cross Tavern in Sandys last July 23.Mr Lightbourne, who was 44 at the time, suffered seven gunshot wounds and spent months in hospital.Bassett stood charged with attempted murder and using a firearm to commit attempted murder, and denied both charges.Police gang expert Alex Rollin and victim Mr Lightbourne alleged that Bassett was an associate or member of west-end gang Money Over Bitches (MOB). Mr Lightbourne told the jury he recognised Bassett as the gunman who opened fire upon him, and that he arrived and left the scene on a motorbike.Mr Lightbourne said he knew members of MOB but also has a nephew, Roger Lightbourne Jr, who was a member of Parkside.In her opening speech, prosecutor Susan Mulligan suggested the motive for the attack was that Mr Lightbourne was as “a perceived threat” to MOB.Defence lawyer Mr Daniels told the jury it was a case of mistaken identity, and Bassett was not the gunman. He also cast doubt on the veracity of the evidence given by Sgt Rollin and Mr Lightbourne that Bassett was a gangster.The original trial jury found Bassett guilty earlier this year of possessing two bullets, which were discovered by detectives at an apartment near the tavern during the shooting investigation. They were made by the same manufacturer as shell cases found at the shooting scene.However, the original jury failed to reach a verdict on the charges of attempted murder and gun possession. Today's verdict on those charges came after a retrial which began on October 18. The forewoman of the jury cried as she delivered them and said they were by a majority of ten jurors to two.Bassett will be sentenced for all three crimes at a later date.