A defence lawyer yesterday accused the second witness in the Uchence Wilson gang trial of fabricating evidence based on media reports and discussions he had with passengers in his car.

Attorney Cecile Griffiths Ashton, who is representing Keron Walters, an alleged member of the gang, suggested that the witness had made up stories about the different robberies he testified that the gang committed after listening to the radio and having discussions with passengers in his taxi.

But this was firmly denied by the witness who insisted that he has been telling the truth.

The witness, a former member of the gang who worked as a mechanic and a taxi operator, testified that he was one of the drivers for the gang and that he had been called to pick up the members from several robbery scenes.

The witness, who has been testifying in the Home Circuit Court via videolink, also told the court that members of the gang would inform him about the robberies that he was not involved in.

But the attorney further suggested to the witness that there was no real gang and hat he told the police that her clients and the other accused were involved in a gang because they were associates of his. But this, too, was rejected by the witness.

Griffiths Ashton also told the witness that he was telling lies on her client about him being a member of a gang and participating in the robberies, but the witness maintained that his evidence was the truth.

Another attorney, Kerry-Ann Wilson, who is representing alleged gang member Machel Goulbourne, also accused the witness of making up stories which she described as “fanciful and fantastic lies”, and passing them off as evidence.

“I don’t know about stories ma’am. I know about evidence and it is the truth,” the witness said in response.

Wilson also suggested to the witness that it was the police who had first started referring to the men as being in a gang and that he adopted it. B the witness disagreed.

She also told the witness that her client did not participate in any criminal activities with him, nor was in any gang with him.

“He is, ma’am, not just with me,” the witness answered.

Another attorney, Tamika Harris, further suggested to the witness that he made up the story about the existence of a gang to avoid prosecution after the police had arrested him when they went to his house and found stolen items.

“You knew you were in deep waters, so you mek up story to get yourself out of deep waters,” Harris said.

But the witness maintained that he told the police the truth in his statement and did not make up any stories.

Uchence Wilson and 23 of his co-accused, including four women and a police corporal, are being tried on various charges, including breaches of the Criminal Justice Suppression of Criminal Organisations Act (Anti-Gang Legislation) and the Firearms Act.

The trial will continue today before Chief Justice Bryan Sykes.