Review: One Don Klansman Gang VS The State

The ongoing Klansman Gang trial that started on September 20, 2021, has seen more than twenty witnesses so far giving evidence against the alleged gang leader, Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan, and 32 of his co-accused, being heard in two courtrooms and connected through the use of technology. The prosecution’s two key witnesses who are former members of the alleged gang have been revealing the inner workings of the alleged criminal network – including the chain of command and the involvement of powerful people -including the police.

One of the defendants, Jermaine Robinson is a former member of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF). The court has so far heard of alleged connections with entertainers, Vybz Kartel and I-Octane. According to the witnesses, the gang’s main source of income came from extortion money collected in sections of Spanish Town, St. Catherine. They say members of the gang intimidated business owners and threatened to burn down their establishments if monies were not paid in full and on-time. From the Spanish Town bus park, the gang would allegedly collect between $80,000 to $100,000 weekly. These monies were allegedly used to fund illicit activities such as the purchasing of guns and ammunition. 

The witnesses have given evidence surrounding the murder of more than one bus operator. In one instance the court heard how gangsters went to a home in the New Nursery, Spanish Town, shot and killed a man and a woman then set the house ablaze with them inside. Another revelation included a mass burial site in Rivoli, where human remains were found. It was revealed that members of the gang allegedly buried men who were from Denham Town there.

In 2019 the alleged gang started falling apart after the reputed leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan and several of his cronies were arrested…The gang’s coffers dwindled and trust was non-existent, as they suspected a member was working with the police, which in fact was the case as they were betrayed by one of their own, who has been working with the state since 2018.

The alleged members of One Don Gang- a breakaway faction of the St. Catherine based Klansman gang- are facing charges of murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial will reconvene on Thursday morning at 10.