Alleged Burgher Gully gang members freed of criminal charges
The first test of the government’s anti-gang legislation failed on Monday when members of the Burgher Gully gang in East Kingston, including its alleged leader Devon Murray, otherwise called Pepsi, were freed before the Home Circuit Court.
In recent weeks, the Police High Command and the Director of Public Prosecutions have been pressing a Parliamentary Committee to tighten the law which was established to target criminal organisations and their members.
The Police High Command said it was awaiting the outcome of the Burgher Gully trial to determine whether the anti-gang legislation is on solid ground.
Trial judge Justice Courtney Day returned a not guilty verdict against Devon Murray, a well known political activist, and six other alleged members of his network.
Mr. Murray was represented by Queens Counsel Patrick Atkinson.
RJR News spoke with defence attorney Peter Champagnie, who was also involved in the case.
He argued that prosecutors failed to prove that the men were involved in gang activities as stipulated under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act.
“…(The trial) has highlighted the deficiencies in the legislation and the need for there to be human resources in the form of the JCF to buttress and support the ingredients that are required to bring a charge such as this,” Mr. Champagnie said in relation to the anti-gang legislation.
The accused men were acquitted after a no case submission was made.
Prosecutors had alleged that Mr. Murray and his co-defendants are members of the Burgher Gully gang, which had been linked to murders, shootings, robberies and other serious crimes in East Kingston.
Mr. Murray was charged with being the leader of a criminal organisation, while the other defendants, including his brother, are accused of being members.
Members of the Burgher Gully gang were arrested and charged in 2015 following a crack-down by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).