21 year-old Diondray McKoy is at prison tonight awaiting sentence after he was convicted of attempted murder in the court room of Justice Troadio Gonzalez half an hour before news time. And he was convicted even though the man he shot refused to testify against him!
The victim, Everald Gray, testified that he was at home on Queen Charlotte Street on June 23, 2009. At around 8:30 p.m., he heard someone calling his name. When he went to door, he was confronted by a man who shot him in left shoulder, left armpit, and his right index finger. He ran into his bedroom, and was rushed to the KHMH for emergency surgery.
When asked about identity, he told the court that he couldn't see the person very clearly because the lamp post in front of his house kept flickering. During his testimony, he told the court that he didn't want to continue with the case, and as a result, the Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith was forced to treat him as a hostile witness.
During cross-examination, McKoy got a chance to face his accuser, who was unable to tell the court with absolute certainty that McKoy was the gunman.
After calling 5 witnesses, the prosecution closed its case, and McKoy then gave sworn testimony that at at the time of the shooting, he was at his mother's house. He declared, "I never shot at Mr. Gray." His mother testified on his behalf, and corroborated his story.
The Jury of 9 deliberated for 2 and half hours, and when they returned, they found him guilty of the charge.
Justice Troadio Gonzalez has scheduled his sentencing hearing for November 15, to give him time to prepare a mitigation hearing. It is notable McKoy is also on remand currently for another attempted murder charge, for which he is awaiting trial.
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