Case against former gang leader continues

The Attorney General Godfrey Smith may be trying a new strategy by using well known defense attorney Simeon Sampson to prosecute a former gang leader but today it was business as usual as the case entered its second day. George “Junie Balls” McKenzie and Eugene Neal, charged with possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition were once again in courtroom number one in the Magistrate’s Court. Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord ruled against the no case submission, filed by defense attorney Lutchman Sooknandan and McKenzie and Neal took the stand today, facing prosecutor Simeon Sampson. Both McKenzie and Neal maintained their innocence, testifying they had never seen the sub machine gun, magazines and ammunition found in the car they had been travelling in prior to the police search. According to the defendants, on October twenty-fourth, they got into a taxi at Pinks Alley, picked up a friend, Karim Gentle and then drove around for about an hour. Just after one that morning they said that the four of them, Gentle and the taxi driver included, were in the front seat of the taxi as it arrived at the Pallotti junction. There, Neal and McKenzie said three men hailed the taxi and got into the back seat of the car. Just down the road, the taxi driver pulled into the Texaco Gas Station for gas and it was just as they were about to move off, police stopped the car and ordered them to get out. They were made to line up near a fence but the three men that they had just picked up, fled the scene leaving Gentle, Neal, McKenzie and the driver. Prior to proceedings yesterday, all charges were dropped against Karim Gentle by the prosecution. Defense attorney Sooknandan says one more witness will be called to testify. The case has been adjourned until January sixth, 2000. This is the first time in twenty-five years that well known defense attorney and human rights activist Simeon Sampson, has prosecuted a case.