Two accused men found guilty of murder

Director of Public Prosecutions Colin Williams will be seeking the death penalty for convicted murderers, Che Bute and Azari Ash.{{more}}

On Wednesday, July 27, after 3 hours and 49 minutes of deliberation, a 12-member jury returned a guilty verdict against the two men of Redemption Sharpes for the murder of Lloyd “Lazo” Samuel in December 2007.

Bute, 27 and Ash, 22, clad in full black attire, sat calmly in the dock as the verdict was announced. The men were also convicted on charges of possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with intent to injure, and unlawful use of firearm.

When asked if they had anything to say why the court should not pass sentence on them, Both men replied: “I am innocent!”

The men will be sentenced on October 21, 2011, pending psychiatric and social inquiry reports.

The case grabbed headlines in recent weeks with the testimony of prosecution star witness Uroy “Laybay’ Robinson.

In his detailed testimony, Robinson said he was in the same house when the plot to kill Samuel was discussed between Bute and Ash.

Robinson said sometime after 10 pm on the night Samuel was shot, Ash told Bute that Samuel had just left his home.

“Azari (Ash) come and tell Che (Bute) that Lazo gorn way and Che say is the best time to mark him when he come back,” Robinson testified.

He added that Bute gave Ash a black, long-sleeved T-shirt; a pair of black trousers; a black tam with holes cut out for the eyes and mouth and a pair of gloves.

Robinson added that Bute took out the bullets from a .32 revolver, placed them in a plastic bag and put them into a pot of boiling water. Robinson said Bute said, “This go mek sure the man dead.”

He said Bute then placed the bullets back into gun, handed the gun to Ash and told him “to make sure it was a safe scene.”

Around 1a.m., on December 22, Robinson testified that Ash returned and said: “Ragga, that dead; ah put all in he head; ah full up he head…”

Robinson said he gave police a statement about the matter in April 2010 because he was “fed up” and wanted to change his life. The young man also told the court that he had given the statements of his own free will.

The defense, led by Queen’s Counsel Carlyle Dougan, and Jomo Thomas, in their cross-examination of Robinson, brought his character and credibility into question. They brought up his past convictions and stated that Robinson still has matters pending before the courts. (KW)