Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
Formerly Jamaica's most wanted - Joel Andem being excorted by a policeman before his appearance at the Gun Court in downtown Kingston last year. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE CROWN closed its case yesterday at the trial of reputed gang leader Joel Andem, 42, who has been on trial in the Gun Court since Monday.
Andem went into the witness box after the Crown closed its case and said he knew nothing about the charges against him. He also denied shooting at a police party.
The Crown is alleging that he fired shots at a police party at Skyline Drive, Jacks Hill, St. Andrew, on January 27, 2002.
Four policemen testified before Justice Patrick Brooks that they knew Andem before the day of the shooting incident. They said, acting on information, they went to premises at Skyline Drive about 9:00 a.m. on January 27, 2002. They said they saw men running from the premises and one of them fired at them.
The policemen said they saw Andem looking through a door and, as he ran from the premises, he too fired shots at them. They said they knew Andem since 1999.
NEVER LEFT HIS HOUSE
Andem said in his defence that he never left his house at Land Lease, Cutabong, near Hope Pastures, St. Andrew, on the day of the alleged shooting. He said that when he woke up about 6:00 a.m. on the day of the incident, he took his radio and went to an area in the bushes where he could look at his house and the road. He said he never left the area that day.
He will be further cross-examined today by acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Anthony Armstrong.
