Clansman Trial Day 3: Prosecution’s Witness Testifies

Day 3 of the Clansman trial, the one don gang involving reputed gang leader Andre ‘Black’ Bryan and his 32 co-accused got underway today at the Supreme Court in Downtown Kingston.

The prosecution called its first witness to the stand who testified under oath. The witness says he was an active member of the criminal organization involved in the collection of extortion money and driving.

One of the prosecution’s main witnesses testified via video link from an undisclosed and remote location on Wednesday, September 22. The witness revealed that he was introduced to the alleged gang leader Andre ‘Black Man’ Bryan in 2016 through a mutual friend who was also a member of the gang.

The witness says after just three meetings with the accused – ‘Black Man’ – he was recruited as his personal driver. The prosecutor asked the witness to identify the gang leader in the courtroom; all the defendants stood and removed their masks briefly. Andre Bryan was then pointed out as the alleged gang leader.

The witness’s involvement in the gang then deepened as he also became the banker. In this role, the witness says he acted upon instructions from Bryan to collect extortion money; this was the witness’s job on Mondays through to Saturdays.

Between 80,000 to 100,000 was collected daily, the witness also disclosed that extortion money in a total of $150,000 was being collected from a loan company per month. Additionally, $200,000 was also being collected monthly.

The witness opted not to disclose the source of this sum, citing security concerns; he told Chief Justice Bryan Sykes that they are ‘powerful people’.

The witness says all monies collected would be kept in his possession, in his refrigerator until the alleged gang leader was ready for it. The money was used to pay legal fees, car rentals, the purchase of guns and ammunition as well as daily purchases of food and other items.

The Crown’s witness says he kept records of the money received and the daily spend. The book of records was however destroyed by the witness in 2018 out of fear when a state of emergency was implemented in a section of St. Catherine.

He went further, detailing the plans of two murders allegedly executed by gang members where he was the driver. The murder of a man on red hills road in 2017 and another man in St. Catherine that same year.

The matter was adjourned minutes after 3 pm as one of the defendants complained about feeling ill. Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says given the nature of the evidence it is expected that the witness will be testifying for several days in the Clansman trial.

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