Court Admits into Evidence Transcripts of Telephone Recordings

The One Don Klansman Gang resumed on Tuesday morning in the Supreme Court with the prosecution admitting into evidence transcripts of telephone conversations said to be between members of the gang. Alleged conversations that are crucial to the crown’s case against the reputed gang leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan and his 32 co-accused. Additionally, the prosecution indicated that they wish to recall to the stand the former gang member who allegedly recorded the telephone conversations on Wednesday, February 15.

Lead defense attorney Lloyd Mcfarlane on Tuesday raised objections to one of the transcripts that did not bear the signature of the former gang member who secretly recorded the conversations. During the former gang member’s testimony, he gave evidence that he signed the transcript. But only the signature of the transcriber was on the document when it was presented in court. Mcfarlane suggested that the document is not consistent with what the witness had said. However, Chief Justice Sykes dismissed the argument, saying no law exists that indicates the witness’ signature must be present on the transcript.

A detective corporal detailed how he took pictures of a rifle made of wood and metal that was allegedly retrieved from the gang. The rifle which was shown to the witness in court as well as the pictures and the ballistic certificate were all entered into evidence.

The police witness went further testifying how he and other officers went on two separate surveillance operations with the former gang member turned state’s witness to take pictures of locations where crimes were allegedly carried out and also pictures of purported gang members. Those images were also tendered into evidence.

Meanwhile, a defendant disrupted the police witness’ testimony with a loud yawn. Chief Sykes instructed the defendants in courtroom one to stand in the docks and issued a warning that such antics will not be tolerated and will be addressed if it were to happen again.

The trial resumes on Wednesday at 10am.