Edward Taylor gets 20 years

Standing calmly in the defendant’s dock, with his hands at his side and a nonchalant look on his face, Edward Taylor looked directly at the judge as he was slapped with a 20-year prison sentence for attempted murder.{{more}}

On Wednesday, November 9, after two hours and 43 minutes of deliberation by a nine member jury, the 21-year-old Lodge Village resident was found guilty of the crime.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Taylor was also found guilty and sentenced on three other charges.

High Court judge, Frederick Bruce-Lyle sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence. For unlawful possession of a firearm, he was sentenced to 10 years; for possession of a firearm without a license, Taylor was sentenced to seven years in prison. For firearm possession, he was given a further 10 years and seven years on ammunition possession.

The sentences will run concurrently.

During the trial, which lasted a week and a half, Edwards’ victim, Cleophus Lyttle, testified that on January 28, 2011, he was in the vicinity of Corea’s Mini Mart, and had just pulled his vehicle into the long line of traffic.

While the traffic was at a stand still, Lyttle said he heard a noise at the driver’s window. He told the court that he heard a loud explosion, followed by a sharp pain in his right finger. Lyttle said he began feeling pain in his left hand and shortly after, realised that he had been shot.

Taylor fled in the vicinity of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

PC 859 Khalique Browne also testified that he saw Taylor dressed in camouflage jacket, black hat and a green bandana over his face running in the vicinity of Paul’s Avenue.

After apprehending Taylor, Browne said Taylor, who was in possession of a firearm, said he found the gun at his work place.

Addressing the jury in his closing arguments, defense Counsel Stephen Williams said that his client denied ever wearing a camouflage jacket and said that he did not discharge a firearm at Lyttle.

Williams argued that only the jacket was brought to court as evidence.

“What possible explanation can you give for the black hat and bandana not being in evidence?…The police force has hundreds of camouflage jackets. What happened to the green bandana and black hat?” Williams asked.

Williams also said he did not see a report of the gun that was sent overseas for testing.

“My client is honest. He was in possession of a gun. Checks were also not done to ascertain if the gun was just discharged…,” Williams stated.

Before sentencing, Williams pleaded with the judge to exercise leniency on his client. He said the offences were very serious, but the injuries sustained by Lyttle were not life threatening as was confirmed by doctors.

Justice Bruce-Lyle said he has to send a warning to those outside who want to use firearms and bring havoc on the society.

The said he does not like when such matters are trivialised. He said if Lyttle did not raise his hands, he might have been a dead man.

“What annoys me in this society are persons who want to be wrong and strong…The evidence against you was so overwhelming,” Bruce-Lyle said.

Crown Counsel Colin John led the case for the crown. Sejilla McDowall and Carl Williams appeared with him in the matter.(KW)