Sea Lots man freed of gun charges

SEA LOTS resident Kerwin Lawrence will get to spend this Christmas at home, after a High Court Judge yesterday directed a jury to return a not guilty verdict in a trial in which he was charged with four gun-related offences. High Court Judge Malcolm Holdip gave the direction to the nine-member jury, after eyewitness Clyde Gilbert gave conflicting evidence under cross-examination by defence attorney Wayne Sturge. Lawrence, of Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, appeared before Justice Holdip charged with shooting at Naba Mohammed with intent, possession of arms, possession of ammunition and common assault, following an incident at TECH Investment Ltd of Milling Avenue, Sea Lots in June 1997.

In his evidence before the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court yesterday, Gilbert told the court that around 1.10 pm on June 14, 1997, he was at his office at TECH Investment Ltd, when he observed two men come onto the compound from the sea side. He said he heard Lawrence ask Mohammed for the warehouse key, and at that time he (Gilbert) ran from the area. He said he heard a loud explosion and returned later to find Mohammed bleeding. Following an investigation, Lawrence was arrested and charged for the offences. As a result of conflicting evidence, State attorney Dinanath Ramkissoon consulted with Director of Public Prosecution Geoffrey Henderson and agreed to stop the trial. The judge then directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict against Lawrence.