Brother of alleged killer Dill says he left shot residue on clothes
Gunshot residue found on clothes worn by alleged killer Jay Dill may have been left by his brother Kofi Dill, Supreme Court heard yesterday.Kofi, who is currently incarcerated for handling a firearm, claimed his brother wore his black top the night he allegedly shot Randy Robinson dead.Mr Robinson, 22, was killed on March 31, 2011 on Border Lane North in Devonshire.Kofi’s 23-year-old brother Jay and his friend Devon Hewey, 24, have been charged with the murder and also with using a firearm to commit the offence.They’ve denied both charges.Kofi told jurors yesterday that he’d purchased the top in November 2010, and wore it when he shot at a bullet-proof vest to make sure the vest was “safe”.Asked by prosecutor Garrett Byrne why he had a gun, he said: “I was just holding it.”Kofi pleaded guilty last December to handling a .38 revolver with a single round in the chamber after it was found in a bag near his home.Expert Alison Murtha told the court that several particles of gunshot residue were found on a black top taken from Jay at Hamilton Police Station hours after the murder. A single particle was found in his pants pocket, she said.Component GSR particles were also discovered on numerous items seized in connection with the case, including both defendants’ clothing and vehicles.Kofi was also questioned yesterday about his relationship with gangs on the Island.He repeatedly told the court that he did not consider himself a gang member, and that he did not consider ‘42’ a gang.“You call it a gang. I don’t call it a gang,” he said. “I suggest to you that there are all just people from the neighbourhood.”He described gang expert Alex Rawlins as an “expert fabricator” when it comes to information on gangs in Bermuda.Asked about Parkside, another reported Pembroke gang, Kofi said: “I feel no way towards Parkside. I don’t hate them, no. They are young men.”The court was then shown a video of Kofi taken before his arrest, in which he and others pointed at what appeared to be a firearm.He was heard singing: “F*** Parkside, hate Parkside” and threatening to murder Jahkeil Samuels, whom police have described as a “shot caller” in the gang.Kofi insisted the gun wasn’t a real firearm, but a children’s toy.Asked by Mr Byrne if he hated Parkside, Kofi said: “That was a bunch of guys high, drunk. Just spitting.”Asked why he would want to kill Mr Samuels, Kofi eventually said: “The same reason other guys have to kill guys sitting around.”Mr Byrne suggested that Kofi and his brother made up the story about the black top.Kofi denied having talked with his brother about the case.He insisted he’d been telling the court the truth but admitted to a previous conviction of giving his brother’s name as his, when arrested.The trial is set to continue today.