The Tribune

A POLICEMAN told a jury he saw Stephen Stubbs with what was believed to be a black firearm outside Club Rock on the night he heard gunshots while conducting surveillance at another club.

Constable Garrath Ryan yesterday said he observed Stubbs, who was 25 feet away from him in the parking lot of the West Bay Street establishment, sliding the firearm under a red vehicle before running to Cocktails and Dreams and driving off on West Bay Street in a heavily tinted white Mustang.

However, when cross-examined Stubbs’ attorney, Murrio Ducille, asked if the firearm had his client’s prints on them following an examination. “No, sir,” Ryan replied.

Outside Club Rock at 1 am

Stephen Stubbs, Andrew Davis and Clint Evans each face a charge of murder and attempted murder in connection with the March 1999 death.

Evans is separately charged with two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear.

Stubbs is represented by Murrio Ducille and Jerone Roberts while Davis and Evans are represented by Ian Cargill and Romona Farquharson-Seymour respectively.

It is claimed that the three accused, on the day in question, murdered Constable Jimmy Ambrose and attempted to kill Constable Marcian Scott.

It is also alleged that Evans possessed a firearm with intent to put Constables Frank Burrows and Calvin Robinson in fear for their lives.

All three men deny the charges and pleaded not guilty when formally arraigned on the charges at the opening of the trial.

In yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecution called the Constable of 23 years to the witness stand to recall his involvement in the case.

Constable Ryan, who was attached to headquarters of the mobile division on the day in question, said he and another Constable were on surveillance in plain clothes at Cocktails and Dreams on West Bay Street near the Fort Charlotte police station when something happened.

“Sometime around 1(am) as we exited northern door of Cocktails and Dreams, I heard what appeared to be gunshots coming from the area of Club Rock,” Ryan said.

“I, along with officer Duncombe, proceeded to the eastern end of the club, by a chain link fence, to take up surveillance point.”

“What happened next?” the prosecution asked.

“I observed persons running from Club Rock heading west. Upon seeing that, I then looked towards south fence separating Club Rock and Cocktails and Dreams and saw additional persons,” the constable added.

The prosecution asked the witness about the lightning conditions at the time and Ryan said they were “excellent” before continuing his testimony.

“I then saw a person as he came from Club Rock, holding what appeared to be a black firearm,” the officer said, adding that the person he saw, got down and slid the firearm under a “red Honda vehicle” before running to Cocktails and Dreams and getting into a heavily tinted white Mustang and heading west.

“How near to you was he?” the prosecution asked. The office answered “20 to 25 feet”.

“How much of him were you able to see?” the prosecution then asked.

“I was able to see all of him,” Constable Ryan answered, “from multiple angles.”

“Was that your first time seeing this person?” the prosecution asked.

The officer said it was not the occasion, as he had come in contact with the man for years though he could not recall the number of occasions. “It was a lot of times,” he said.

“Do you see that person today, sir?” the Crown asked Ryan.

“Yes. The gentleman with the blueish-greenish shirt,” the officer said, pointing to the man seated in the prisoner’s dock.

“Do you know his name?” the Crown asked. “Stephen Stubbs,” the officer replied.

Constable Ryan continued his testimony, saying that he went over and collected the firearm for safekeeping. He also said he received information from a young man who had approached him, which led him to Club Rock where he saw a group of persons standing around in the yard, including one of the accused who was known to him.

Getting closer, he observed the body of officer Ambrose, who appeared to be lifeless.

He then approached the young man he identified as Andrew Davis, cautioned and arrested him. Ryan said Davis said nothing before he took him on foot to the police station, where he received additional information.

A subsequent arrest was made at Cocktails and Dreams of a man named Jermaine Poitier.

Prints on The Pistol

“The firearm that you discovered, was that still in your possession?” the prosecution asked.

“I put it in my pocket,” the officer answered, adding that he took it to the Criminal Records Office at Oakes Field within seven minutes for fingerprint testing. He handed the firearm over to Corporal Gibson and was in the presence of the officer and Duncombe when dusting for prints occurred.

He said he put the gun into a safe for security.

The firearm, which was identified as a Llama .45 pistol, was then shown in court and exhibited into evidence.

In cross-examination, Mr Ducille recalled the witness evidence of seeing his client with a gun.

“Was he charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm?” the attorney asked.

“No,” Constable Ryan answered.

“Have you ever received any summons for him concerning a charge of possession of unlicensed firearm?” the attorney asked.

“No, sir,” the officer answered.

Mr Ducille also asked the officer if he mentioned a safe in his report and Constable Ryan said, “no, sir”.

“Was Stephen Stubbs’ prints found on this gun?” the attorney asked.

“No, sir,” Constable Ryan answered.