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Gunshots sparked police chase, court hears

Gariko Benjamin

A man fired gunshots in a Pembroke neighbourhood before being chased across the Island by police who he threatened that he had a weapon, a jury heard.Gariko Benjamin, 21, from Sandys, is alleged to have told officers who chased him after he opened fire in Mount Hill: "You think you're bad 'cos you've got a gun. You're not the only one that has a gun," while gesturing that he had one himself.The high-speed police chase ended up in Somerset, where Mr Benjamin lives, his Supreme Court trial heard from prosecutor Garrett Byrne this morning.The episode in question took place on the morning of January 25 this year.Mr Byrne told the jury in Mr Benjamin's trial that the defendant and an accomplice arrived in Mount Hill, Pembroke, on a black motorcycle.They stopped outside a residence belonging to the Raynor family. Family members Jahfari and Sadune Raynor were outside the house at the time with friends.The defendant is alleged to have jumped off the back of the bike wearing a dark helmet and full face visor so nobody could see his face, according to Mr Byrne.An eye witness reported seeing the suspect walking with his hand down by his side before he opened fire."Luckily, nobody was caught by a bullet, nobody was injured," said Mr Byrne.Mr Benjamin is alleged to have stolen a blue scrambler bike from the Raynors' yard to make his escape. He and his accomplice then "sped off at great speed" according to the prosecutor.One police officer estimated he was travelling at more than 100kph and was spotted pulling "wheelies" during the chase.At one point when Mr Benjamin was being chased, he made a gesture towards unarmed officers suggesting he had a weapon, according to Mr Byrne.They retreated to a safe distance and Mr Benjamin ended up at his house on Tribe Road Number 2, Sandys.Later, when officers arrived at that house, Mr Benjamin "got hostile" and uttered the words about a gun which Mr Byrne described as "a very clear and unpleasant threat".He was then arrested. According to Mr Byrne, gun shot residue was found by a forensic expert on his cell phone and one of the handlebars of a scrambler bike found in a locked room at his home.Mr Benjamin is on trial accused of possessing and unlawfully discharging a firearm and using threatening behaviour towards police.He is further charged with aggravated vehicle taking in relation to the scrambler bike, and riding it dangerously.Mr Benjamin denies all the charges he faces and the case continues.