Tesha Miller Denies Leading Criminal Organisation as Klansman Gang Trial Begins

Proceedings opened Wednesday morning in the Home Circuit Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston with Tesha Miller and 24 co-accused formally arraigned in the long-awaited Klansman gang trial.

Miller entered a not guilty plea to the charge of leading a criminal organisation under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) (Amendment) Act, widely known as the anti-gang law. He is listed on a 32-count indictment and is the sole defendant named on the first count, which specifically alleges leadership of the gang.

The accused men are before the court in relation to alleged criminal activities carried out in St Catherine between August 5, 2017 and August 22, 2022. Prosecutors have laid multiple charges across the indictment, including murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravation, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Miller is currently serving a 38-year sentence at hard labour following his conviction for orchestrating the 2008 murder of former Jamaica Urban Transit Company chairman Douglas Chambers.

At the time of the arraignment, the court was moving through the second count on the indictment, which charges participation in a criminal organisation. All 25 defendants have pleaded not guilty to that charge.