BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AT 8:40 p.m. on Thursday (Jun. 12), an eight-woman-four-man jury returned hung in the attempted murder case against Deshawn Leader, having deliberated for approximately three hours.
Leader is charged with attempting to kill Rohan Hamilton on the evening of November 5, 2012.
His trial began on June 2, with the prosecution team, led by Counsel O'Neil Simpson, calling on five witnesses, including investigators to give evidence to prove its case.
The virtual complainant, in a very dramatic testimony, told the Court that Leader shot at him in an attempt to kill him after exiting some bushes outside his [Rohan] home at Belmont Estate.
Rohan said he and Leader were like best friends and after trying to "reason" with him, he went into his house but was followed by Leader, who at that time was trying to "crank" the firearm as it had stopped functioning.
Rohan said a wrestling match ensued and after both of them had wrangled with the gun for some time, he managed to get it. He also said that after striking Leader with a machete the accused ran away.
The witness told the Court that he then ran to the police station with the gun and made a report.
After the prosecution rested its case, Leader, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Chesley Hamilton, took the stand and told the Court that it was Rohan who had attacked him.
The accused man stated that he had lent Rohan $1 900 to renew his business licence but after months of requesting repayment he had not received anything.
He testified that on the evening in question, Rohan had told him he could visit his home to collect the money but he was met with a firearm instead.
He said after "reasoning" for some time, it became intense and as he turned to leave Rohan's home he was struck in the head with the gun.
Leader said they wrestled with the weapon and two shots went off, after which Rohan took a machete and cut him with it. He said while running away Rohan fired twice after him and he sought refuge in some nearby bushes.
Hamilton also called on two witnesses to support its claim.
On Thursday, the prosecution and defence counsel gave their closing arguments and His Lordship Justice Darshan Ramdhani gave his summation. At 5:45 p.m. the jury retired for deliberation and returned three hours later with a nine-three hung jury.
The judge declared a mistrial and traversed the matter to the next Criminal Assizes in September.
