Gun used in three other firearms crimes, jury told
The gun used to shoot Jeremiah Dill was used in three other firearms crimes, a jury heard yesterday.The Rexio revolver, found by police nearly three months after the shooting on October 2 2010, was also used to murder Raymond “Yankee” Rawlins in August 2010.The evidence came via written statements from ballistics expert Dennis McGuire and Detective Constable Vernell Burgess, read to the jury in the trial of Noet Barnett by prosecutor Carrington Mahoney yesterday.Gang expert Alexander Rollin later explained the findings further.Mr Barnett is accused of the attempted murder of Mr Dill in Pembroke on October 4 2010. According to Sgt Rollin the defendant is a member of the 42 gang and the victim belonged to the rival Parkside gang. The gangs are embroiled in a feud involving tit for tat shootings.According to Mr McGuire and Det Con Burgess, the gun used to shoot Mr Dill was used to murder Mr Rawlins on August 9 2010. Sgt Rollin described Mr Rawlins as an associate of the Parkside gang and its allies Middletown.The gun was discharged at Overview Hill, Pembroke, on October 16 2010, although no one was hurt. Sgt Rollin told the jury the incident happened at a “residence of Parkside gang members”.The weapon was later used in the attempted murder of Jari Fischbacher on November 24, 2010 on Spanish Point Road, Pembroke. According to Sgt Rollin, Spanish Point is an area associated with Parkside.The trial has heard how Mr Barnett told detectives, during video interviews after his arrest, that three of his cousins, Perry Puckerin, Kumi Harford and Shane Minors, had been killed by Parkside.According to Sgt Rollin, Mr Puckerin and Mr Harford were members of the 42 gang. Mr Minors had no gang affiliations, but his brother, Shaki Minors, was a member of 42.Mr Barnett told police he had nothing to do with the shooting of Jeremiah Dill, despite an eyewitness telling detectives she recognised him as the gunman, and his DNA being found on the gun.He denied committing the crime to seek vengeance over his dead family members and said he was interviewing for a job at the Southampton Princess hotel on the morning in question.However, the jury heard a statement yesterday from Barry Hume, the man who Mr Barnett said conducted the interview. According to Mr Hume, the interview was actually on September 28 last year, not the morning of the shooting on October 4, and Mr Barnett was unsuccessful.Mr Rollin described Mr Barnett as a known member of the 42 gang who has a tattoo on his left arm reading “4 Life 42,” in reference to his affiliation. The officer said Jeremiah Dill has admitted to police that he is a member of the Parkside gang.In answer to questions from defence lawyer Victoria Pearman, Sgt Rollin agreed it is tough for young men from the 42 gang's St Monica's Road neighbourhood where Mr Barnett lived not to be drawn into gang affairs.Mr Barnett denies attempted murder, using a firearm to commit attempted murder and handling a firearm, and the case continues.