Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, the lone judge trying 28 alleged members of the vicious Klansman gang, on Monday declared that based on the evidence in the case he was satisfied that the criminal organisation in fact exists and that the accused Andre Bryan “is the leader”.

Additionally, Sykes, in completing four weeks of summation of the evidence, named six of the other defendants that he considers members of the gang.

The trial judge, who had indicated that the “end is in sight” for the long-running trial, shared his findings after assessing Count One of the indictment which charges Bryan alone with the offence of leadership of a criminal organisation under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) (Amendment) Act commonly called the anti-gang legislation.

According to the judge, he found the testimonies of the two Crown witnesses, who happen to be former gang members turned Crown witnesses, “credible” so far.

“I am satisfied to the criminal standard that in this evidence a criminal organisation existed and that having regard to the role that Mr Bryan played he is the leader and that is enough to satisfy Count One,” the trial judge said. Justice Sykes said that on reviewing the testimony of Crown Witness Number Two — who told the court that he had met Bryan at his swanky home in 2016 through a mutual acquaintance and then had multiple other encounters with him, leading to him becoming Bryan’s personal driver — he was “satisfied” that the witness, who did not attend a formal identification parade for Bryan but had pointed him out in court during the trial, had sufficient “prior knowledge ” to do this.

In respect of Witness Number One, who said he met Bryan in mid-2016 at MegaMart, St Andrew, through another accused Daniel McKenzie, the chief justice said this evidence has “implications” for the accused Kalifa Williams, who has contended that he has no ties with the gang as he was in custody from 2017.

According to the trial judge, on the contrary, Williams would, in the period leading up to 2017, have had an opportunity to interact with Bryan and so his being in custody would not be “the end of the matter”.

Justice Sykes said Witness Number One was not making up stories in this respect and as a result of his countless engagements with Bryan knew him “extremely well”. As such, he said he was satisfied in making it a “finding of fact” that it was possible for the witness to point Bryan out in court during the trial, even if there had been no identification parade.

“Even if there was no parade, his identification in court would have been sufficient,” the chief justice said.

In pointing to assertions by both witnesses that Bryan was constructing a studio on Jones Avenue, the chief justice said Bryan’s own admission that he was a musician was instructive.

He said the narrative of Witness Number Two detailing Bryan’s presence at his home on multiple occasions and the presence of at least three accused who would stand guard during those times “becomes important” in assessing the membership allegation, which is Count Two on the indictment and charges all 28 accused of membership.

“He did say three of these persons were involved in providing security services outside his house, which makes sense if Mr Bryan was there frequently,” Justice Sykes said.

“At this point I will just indicate that I am satisfied so that I feel sure that the evidence of [Witness Number Two in this respect] is reliable, notwithstanding the fact that he is an accomplice,” the trial judge declared.

In the meantime, in noting the account of both witnesses of a night-time double murder and arson at Fisheries in New Nursery, Spanish Town, the trial judge said evidence given by Witness Number Two of a second shooting offence carried out during the day at the same area, though not indicted for, was still useful in determining membership and the existence of a criminal organisation, particularly as it relates to Andre Golding, the accused said to be a keeper of the infamous Klansman duppy trucks, which were cars used to conduct shootings and murders.

He said the evidence of Witness Number Two that Golding was present during the shooting “would make him a part of the criminal organisation”.

Furthermore, he said the evidence of the witness that the accused Ted Prince, also known as Mawga Man, was the shooter was evidence of membership, and the issuing of the instructions by Bryan as to how the shooting was to be conducted and who was to be shot showed “leadership” of a criminal organisation.

He noted further that shooting was the criminal activity engaged in, while pointing to the actions of the accused Jahzeel Blake, who was the one selected to stake out the victims and report their location to Bryan.

The trial judge, in stating that “there is nothing to suggest that the incident is a fabrication” said, “I am satisfied so that I feel sure that this Fisheries incident did take place in 2017” and that the accused Ted Prince, Jahzeel Blake, Andre Bryan, Witness Number Two, and two other individuals who are not on trial were involved.

“I am satisfied to the criminal standard that in this evidence a criminal organisation existed and that, having regard to the role that Mr Bryan played, he is the leader and that is enough to satisfy Count One,” the trial judge said.

Justice Sykes also said he found that Stephanie Cole-Christie, otherwise called Mumma, is a member of the gang. The trial judge made this assessment based on evidence adduced during the trial regarding the torching of at least three stores operated by loan company Torpedo in 2017.

According to Witness Number Two, a self-confessed gang member turned Crown witness, the decision to burn down the stores in Spanish Town, Linstead, and Old Harbour was taken because the owner “wasn’t cooperating”.

“Mrs Cole-Christie’s good character and the wonderful thing she has done, notwithstanding her good character and community service, I am satisfied so that I feel sure that Witness Number Two was speaking the truth about this Torpedo incident, notwithstanding that it was unindicted,” the chief justice declared.

He, in the meantime, said he found, based on the evidence, that the accused Fabian Johnson, otherwise called Crocs, who is said to be Cole-Christie’s significant other and who at one point shared an address with her, is also a gang member.

The Crown, during the trial which began in 2021, alleged that between 2015 and 2019 the accused carried out a range of murders, conspiracies to murder, and extortion and arson throughout St Catherine.

It said the gang’s headquarters at Jones Avenue in Spanish Town was used by gang members for planning their exploits and was also where briefings and debriefings in respect of crimes took place.

On Monday, Bryan, clad in a dark blue dress shirt and tan plaid pants, listened attentively, alternating between craning his neck and slouching with his hands tucked deep in his pockets, his face unreadable below his wild reddish-brown locks.

The matter resumes at 10:00 this morning and the trial judge will continue his findings in respect of Count Six which charges Bryan with the 2017 murder at Shoppers’ Delight in St Andrew of Damion Forrester, otherwise called Doolie.