Troumaca/Chester Cottage accused acquitted of charges
A MAN, who faced six charges in relation to a shooting incident alleged to have resulted in the wounding of three persons, was acquitted on all counts.
Rolando Samuel of Troumaca/Chester Cottage, appeared at the High Court before Justice Brian Cottle on June 28, 2024, where he was found not guilty of three counts of wounding, and three other gun charges that were in relation to a shooting incident that occurred in Byera on November 27, 2022.
Samuel was charged that he did unlawfully and maliciously wound Lanique Jacobs, Shanique Yearwood and Ifranton Dickson with the intent to do so.
Samuel was also charged for having in his possession one firearm at S and M bar and restaurant at Byera with the intent to endanger life.
He was further charged for having in his possession eight rounds of .9mm ammunition without a license issued under the Firearms Act; and for having in his possession one Glock .43 pistol without a license issued under the Firearms Act.
According to the Crown’s case, which was summarized by Justice Cottle, several gunshots were fired at a party in Byrea. The records were checked and it was found that Samuel had no license.
Cottle continued that a police officer claimed that he saw Samuel with a gun in his hand. However, Samuel denied ever being in possession of a gun that night.
Samuel sustained a gunshot wound and said that he knows who shot him, but he refused to tell the police who it was.
The officer, who claimed that he saw Samuel with a gun in his hand, said that he was the one who shot Samuel. However, Samuel said that the man who shot him was not a police officer.
Jacobs, who was one of the victims at the party, said that she heard gunshots and froze in shock. Yearwood, who is the boyfriend of Jacob’s cousin, fell to the ground.
Then she too fell on the ground. Jacobs didn’t feel anything, but saw blood sprouting from her right leg. A bullet had hit her in that leg, went through and was lodged in her left leg.
Jacobs and Yearwood were both taken to the hospital. Jacobs saw that there were two other victims that night. Dickson, who is the third virtual complainant, said he was at the party when a light skinned fellow approached him and looked at him.
The man seemed angry. He said Samuel then came close to him and had fired gunshots. Dickson sustained two gunshots about his body. When he escaped, he heard more gunshots being fired at the party.
Samuel said that when he was shot, he ran out of the party and then heard two more gunshots. He then found a man and told him to call the police. However, when the man reported the matter to the police, the officer arrested both the man and Samuel.
After the trial concluded, a nine member jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts.
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