BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITHOUT the escort of prison or police officers, Sheldon ‘Sword’ Cannonier left the Basseterre High Court of Justice last evening freed of the gun-related charges which had hung over his head.
At approximately 5:05 p.m. yesterday (Feb. 16), the four-man-eight-woman jury charged with deciding on Cannonier’s guilt or innocence of “having a firearm in possession with intent to endanger life”, “wounding with intent” and “unlawful wounding”, retired for deliberations and emerged some two hours 10 minutes later.
The jury informed the court that it came to a decision and was divided 10:2 on all counts. The jury upheld the presumption that Cannonier was innocent and decided that the prosecution failed at proving his guilt.
Cannonier was accused of committing the February 24, 2007 offences against then fire officer Glen Thomas.
According to evidence produced by the prosecution, Thomas and his then girlfriend, Mandesa Dore, were at her mother’s Taylors Village home in one of the rooms when the louver opened and a fair complexioned hand carrying a gun was stretched through the window. Thomas told the court that he was shot three times and managed to see who his attacker was. He identified Cannonier as the one who attacked him. Also, according to his evidence, the individual who shot him used his left hand to fire the weapon.
Dr. Lawrence Rawlins, who attended to Thomas after the incident occurred, said there are two bullets lodged in him; one in his thigh and the other near the 11th vertebra. He added that the third bullet was removed. The medical practitioner explained to the court that the bullets were left there as they did not cause any neurological or vascular problem, and also because damage caused by the removal of the bullets would have been far greater than the damage caused by their entry.
After the prosecution closed its case, Cannonier’s defence counsel, John Cato, filed a “no case” submission on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence against his client and the evidence provided by the prosecution is contradictory. Cato argued that to leave the case in the hands of the jury “is tantamount to asking the jury to roll a die”. His submission was dismissed.
Evidence given by Cannonier and his witnesses suggested that on the night of the incident he was at home with his mother, sister and other family members. Cannonier said that earlier that day he was “liming” at the Ferry Terminal, had consumed alcoholic beverages and was not feeling well. He told the court that he went home and his mother attended to him, and he shortly thereafter went to bed. Cannonier said he did not leave his home until the following morning sometime after sunup.
Cannonier’s mother and sister, with whom he lived, gave evidence in court and corroborated his alibi.
When asked if she has left-handed children, Cannonier’s mother answered in the affirmative and indicated that his “third brother” is left handed. She said Sheldon, however, was right handed.
After listening to closing arguments from the Crown and defence counsels, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle provided a summation of all the evidence and gave direction on the law.
On completion of the reading of the verdict, Cannonier, with a look of relief, strolled out of the courtroom and was met on the outside by family members and friends.
When asked by SKNVibes for a comment, the acquitted man declined.
