Captured gang leader Joel Andem was yesterday freed of a murder charge in the Home Circuit Court after the prosecution’s only witness firmly told the court that he would not testify for fear of his life.

But Andem, 40, who has been in custody since May last year, was quickly taken away by heavily-armed police and soldiers as he is still to face the court on 26 other criminal charges, including two for suspected murder and one for alleged conspiracy to murder.

Yesterday’s case was in regard to the June 26, 2000 shooting death of 20 year-old Lennox Ffrench on Old Hope Road, St Andrew.

Andem was represented by attorneys Bertram Macaulay Q C, Richard Small, Janet Nosworthy and Lloyd Shackleford.

The prosecution had apparently expected the case to be short, given that they had only one witness. But when the matter was called up, the witness told Justice Lloyd Hibbert and the 12-member jury that he lives in the community where the crime was committed and did not want to have to keep looking over his shoulder.

He also told the court that he was suffering from stress, could not take the suffering anymore and did not wish to give any further statement in the matter.

Court sources told the Observer yesterday that on Monday the witness had declared his intention to withdraw from the case because he feared for his life. However, police and court officials pleaded with him to testify and promised that the police would protect him.

But, when he arrived at the court yesterday and saw that the court building was surrounded by heavily-armed soldiers and police, and that armed security men were positioned on the roofs of adjoining buildings, the witness grew even more afraid, court sources told the Observer.

After the witness notified the court of his decision, the crown offered no evidence in the matter and Justice Hibbert directed the jury, which was impanelled on Monday, to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Andem, who was on the police’s most wanted list for four years, was captured in Clarksonville, St Ann last May in a pre-dawn operation by the police’s Special Anti-Crime Task Force and the Military Intelligence Unit.

In addition to the murder and conspiracy to murder charges, Andem has been charged with:

. 10 counts of shooting with intent;

. 12 counts of illegal possession of firearm;

. robbery with aggravation; and

. kidnapping.

No court dates have yet been set to hear these charges.

Police say that Andem’s gang, known as the Gideon Warriors, was involved in kidnapping, extortion, robbery, gun-running and contract killings. The cops have also blamed the gang for more than 22 murders, including those of St Andrew gas station owner Sylvia Edwards and her brother-in-law Robert Edwards; District Constable James Thomas, who was shot dead in Kintyre and his body dumped in the Hope River; and People’s National Party activist Pearl Brisco, who was branded a police informer.