Accused in Klansman Gang Trial Makes Gun Gesture Toward Police Witness Inside Supreme Court

A disruption inside the Supreme Court on Wednesday briefly heightened tension in the ongoing Klansman gang trial when one of the defendants reportedly made a threatening gesture toward a police witness after court proceedings paused for the day.

The incident occurred as the accused man was being escorted from the courtroom while handcuffed to another defendant. According to observations presented in court, he used his fingers to mimic a firearm, pointed the gesture toward the prosecution’s first witness — a detective corporal — and made a sound resembling a gunshot.

The detective, who had just finished giving evidence and was standing in the hallway, reacted by laughing before remarking that the action amounted to a threat. Court officers continued escorting the defendant to the holding area without further incident.

The moment came shortly after testimony began in the high-profile case involving alleged gang leader Tesha Miller and 24 other co-accused, all facing charges under Jamaica’s anti-gang legislation.

During earlier testimony, the detective corporal outlined details of a police operation carried out on March 5, 2023, around 4:30 a.m. in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. He told the court that roughly 20 officers were assigned to execute a search warrant at a targeted property.

The officer said he was placed on the outer cordon team responsible for securing the perimeter while a separate unit entered the premises. He testified that police identified themselves and announced the warrant but received no reply from inside.

According to his account, one individual was later discovered inside the building. While positioned at the rear of the property, the officer observed a vehicle arrive at the front, followed by three men exiting. Before he could relay the development to colleagues, a second vehicle approached.

Two of the men reportedly entered the yard calling out the name “Rippa.” When the second vehicle — later confirmed to be additional police personnel — pulled up, the two men ran toward the back of the premises where the witness was stationed.

The detective corporal said he identified himself as police. He testified that one of the men was armed and raised a firearm, prompting him to discharge his service weapon. That individual was shot and fell. Another suspect fled past his position but was pursued by another officer and escaped by jumping a rear fence.

A firearm was reportedly recovered from the wounded man, who was transported to hospital in a police vehicle.

The witness also stated that he later encountered another individual at the front of the location who identified himself as Bijourn Thomas, also known as “Beejay,” and claimed to be a truck driver. The officer identified Thomas in court as one of the accused.

The trial is set to continue Thursday at 10 a.m.

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