Residents tell court that alleged gang leader was a good church member

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

Reputed gang leader Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton has been described as a very helpful community member and a former choir boy.

The glowing character reference for a man who once topped the country's most-wanted list was presented to the Gun Court last Friday as Dog Paw awaited his sentence on shooting charges.

The court was told that Dog Paw was a man who attended church and some residents of the St Andrew community where he resided looked up to him because he was always assisting them.

But the glowing character references did not prevent Justice Sarah Thompson James from sending the alleged gang leader to prison for 15 years.

Linton, 27, and his co-accused Micah Allen, both of Bedward Gardens, Kingston 7, were convicted in the Gun Court on February 15 on charges of illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent.

Sentencing put off

Sentencing was put off until last Friday when they were both sent to prison for 15 years on each charge.

The sentences are to run concurrently, so they will spend 15 years in prison.

Attorney-at-law Diane Jobson who represented Linton and attorney-at-law Patrick Peterkin who represented Allen announced that the men are to appeal their convictions and sentences.

A small crowd watched as Linton and Allen were whisked away under tight security.

The Crown led evidence that on April 11, 2010 Linton and Allen were among a group of gunmen who fired shots at a police team along Tavern Drive, St Andrew.

The policemen testified that they knew Linton and Allen before and the two were among a group of men who fired at them.

Ricardo Jones, who is Linton's brother, was also charged, but he was freed in January following a no-case submission.

a case for Linton, Allen

However, the judge ruled that there was a case for Linton and Allen to answer.

In their defence, the two men said that they were not in the area at the time of the alleged shooting.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has congratulated the police investigators for the quality work done in preparing the case which led to the convictions.

Ellington also commended the prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for their input, advice, and advocacy which played a significant role in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.

Dog Paw is still before the court on a murder charge following the killing of a six-year-old boy, his 31-year-old mother and a 49-year-old taxi operator in Bedward Gardens, St Andrew, in December 2010.

It is alleged that shots were fired into the house occupied by the family before it was set ablaze.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com