Defence attorney Paul Gentles on Monday challenged the lead investigator in a 2020 murder allegedly committed by members of the Klansman gang, accusing him of targeting his client based on a statement from a convicted killer, rapist, and robber he labelled a “pathological liar”.

The sleuth, last week testified that during the investigation into the April 18, 2020 murder of St Catherine man William Christian and the wounding of another man, he, in November 2020, spoke to an “apprehensive” inmate at a particular lock-up who indicated that he wanted to share some details but was timid to do so at that location.

He said arrangements were made for an off-site interview to be conducted at which point a lengthy video-recorded witness statement was collected from the man, who is now one of two main prosecution witnesses in the current trial of 25 alleged members of the gang.

Following that statement, the sleuth said the accused, Michael Wildman (Gentles’s client), who was at that time in custody at Greater Portmore Police Station (known colloquially as 100 Man station), was placed on his radar. He said Wildman and the accused Lamar Rowe, who are jointly charged for those crimes, were subsequently arrested and charged by him.

The prosecution, after the arraignment of the 25 accused on February 4, indicated that its two star witnesses — ex-gangsters who have already pleaded guilty to varying offences, including murder, and are currently serving prison sentences — will be the linchpin of its case against all the accused. Neither of the two have yet taken the stand and their identities have also been withheld. The defence has, however, been chiding the Crown for not yet rolling out those two witnesses and have been chiselling away at their character.

On Monday, Gentles chided the cop for “accosting” his client on the basis of that statement without checking the antecedents of the detained man or verifying details he provided, given his spotty record.

“You will agree with me, Sir, that prisoner’s lie, and in instances they lie in an attempt to derive a benefit from the system, such as a plea deal… I’m going to suggest to you, Sir, that the star witness for the Crown lied when he gave this statement to you, you can agree, disagree, or say you don’t know,” the senior attorney challenged.

When the Crown objected to that line of questioning, pointing out that the cop would not be able to determine whether or not the witness had lied, Gentles persisted, saying “I’m going to suggest to you, sir that you are aware [that the star witness] gave a statement on the 31st of December 2025 stating categorically that he lied when he spoke to the police about the names of persons he placed on different scenes”.

Hit with another objection from the Crown and a caution from trial Judge Justice Dale Palmer, an unrepentant Gentles said, “I am merely suggesting to the witness that he has knowledge. If it is that he doesn’t have knowledge, he can say so, because I have my instructions in respect to not only that aspect of it, but others. And those are my instructions which I’m required to put to this witness”.

When that questioning strategy was also struck down, Gentles went on to challenge the wisdom of the witness in taking his client into custody without more.

“The statement that you collected [from the Crown witness] was collected the Friday… on the Monday morning you were accosting my client, Michael Wildman with respect to that information. Having collected this statement… did you make any inquiries as to [his] background and antecedents before accosting Michael Wildman? Did you attempt to authenticate his antecedents in any way, shape, or form?” Gentles wanted to know.

When the sleuth replied, “No, Sir,” Gentles said, “would I be correct to say that [the Crown witness who gave that statement] based on your knowledge, is convicted for four counts of murder, he’s convicted for rape, he’s convicted for robbery, and he’s also convicted for shooting with intent?”

“I know he’s convicted, but for the offences and the counts I am not aware,” the cop replied.

Asked by Gentles whether he was aware that the Crown witness had entered a plea deal as it “touched and concerned the matter” he was investigating, the cop replied in the negative.

An undaunted Gentles, however, went on to insist that the witness had not given his statement because of an attack of conscience but because he was baited.

“Did he voluntarily just open up and give this 9/10-page statement? You made no promises in exchange for this statement, was there no form of encouragement or solicitation from you to try and get this information?” Gentles prodded.

“The statement was given voluntarily, there was no form of solicitation,” the witness replied, stating that he did not request a statement from the man either.

Details contained in statements read into court records last week revealed that the shooting had been carried out by “three gunmen” and that three firearms were used. Based on the autopsy done some 53 days after Christian was killed, the cause of death was due to massive bleeding, injury to both lungs, and multiple gunshot wounds.

The matter resumes on Tuesday at 10:00 am in the Home Circuit Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston.