Gariko Benjamin Found Not Guilty On All Counts
[Updated - Found not guilty] Jury deliberations are getting underway this afternoon [June 22] in the Gariko Benjamin trial.
The 21-year-old man is alleged to have opened fire at a Mount Hill home then stolen a motocross bike and led police on a high speed chase to Somerset.
The Court heard that Mr Benjamin rode into the Mount Hill/Overview Lane area of Pembroke around 10:30am on January 25th 2012 where it is alleged he fired shots at the home of Sadune and Jahfari Raynor.
After the shooting, the defendant is alleged to have stolen a blue motocross bike and speed away in a westerly direction with the police in pursuit; doing speeds exceeding 100km/h and also doing “wheelies”.
He was apprehended in Sandys, and two police officers testified they saw Mr Benjamin pat his side and say: “You guys think that you can what you like because you’ve got a gun. You’re not the only ones with a gun.”
He was arrested, and after he was handcuffed, the Court heard Mr Benjamin broke into tears and said, “Call my Daddy.”
Gunshot residue was found on the bike, which the defendant — who is represented by Charles Richardson — said he had allowed a friend to stash on the property. Mr Benjamin denies the charges which include unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful discharge of a firearm; taking a motorcycle without the owner’s permission and threatening behaviour to Police.
Update 6.55pm: Mr Benjamin has been found not guilty on all counts. The Judge told him he is free to go.
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YES MY N$#GA COMIN HOME.!!!!!! F#%K ALL U LAMES.!!!!!
1st!!!!! Sorry Babba Stewart no more dirt bikes for you, maybe a cell mate name Babba!!!!!
If you had any dignity you would you would not convict or judge anyone.Innocent until proven guilty.
See @ the track Bubba Stewart lol!!!!!
Bernews before the verdict is given please don’t allow any comments in this or any case that might prejudice the final out come in anyway.
The original heading was not about him being found not guilty.
So get your facts right. This is the first I have heard of it.
Bernews fault.
How can you steal a bike from property, stashed.
Do your time.
Hope not too many follow.
I am lost.
You don’t have to say you are lost. From your previous comments that goes without saying
Dopey lil arse
Guess the joke is on you. After all your name says it all
Cell mate? Lil arse? Do your time? Not guilty on all counts! Blog that!!!!
You did your time, was guilty on all counts and still on the US Stoplist! Blog that!!!!
Charles:”People like to bring up your past when your present and future look better than theirs!” Edha2
But you already know that!
Gary go n take up the offers you are gonna get from overseas motorcross agents babes! Its the best thing you can do right now.
Oh. Why will he get offers from overseas motor agents. How the hell did this dude get off…….. LOCAL JURYS ARE A JOKE, EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE………
@ Unbelievable….people like to bring up the ‘bad’ in peoples past when they have nothing to say….Charles is one of THE BEST lawyers in Bermuda right now…He overcame his “past” and has made a name for himself…and for some reason that upsets people…Joe Publics come back to Charles comment was weak…just like the Police’s case……
To Gariko…look at this as a second chance and move on….DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE NAYSAYERS HAVE TO SAY AS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER TO THEM…..if they were following the case and really UNDERSTANDING what was being presented they would see that there is no way that you should have been found guilty…
That’s the problem today… People hating for no reason. Be happy for the yout and be proud of the lawyer that help bring him through. God allowed this, so what? You gone be mad at God too. Bermudians and their hating ways, no one wants to see the next one make it o_0
Yeah, until this happens again. I guarantee that he will be in the news again some day!
Lol joe public while ya worrying bout some whack united states Charles is travelling to places like Rome somewhere ya hatin self probably can’t go and not because of a stop list #FOH the states?! Ya serious #grow up states is only for shopping
Boy no wonder you vote PLP. Keep drinking the kool aid.
Mr. Richardson you would be more of a gentleman if you did not respond to blogs of this kind,there is great respect for you in this country for the accomplishments you have made and you have come to far to be caught up in this type of web of nay saying,I would also caution you that not everyone that gets off not guilty is totally innocent.we both know when it comes to the burden of proof many guilty walk free for lack of evidence or botched investigations, I would be the first to say that I don’t point my finger at this young man who walked free and judge him in any way but hope that he will thank God above that he was given a chance that could have been other wise.
I would say in closing that many have been guilty in things that they was shown to be innocent but the over all picture they may have thought they beat the system but never can they beat the Hand of God,so pay day always comes when we least expect it and try as we wish there is no escaping it
i respect this..
Innocent until proven guilty!!Where are all of you gossip whores that like to convict before knowing any facts and believe guilty until proven innocent Smh
not guilty is very different from innocent. They did not declare him innocent, but they could not find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, thus he is not guilty. He may very well have done the crime but it could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
Actualy – your guilty – till proven innocent!!!
Actually – no -that is Napoleonic Law , practiced in some countries like Cuba. Im pretty sure, here we are innocent until proven guilty.
Unfortunately here in Bermuda with a weak jury pool the guilty are often found not guilty (not to be confused with innocent) because here in Bermuda, he with the best lawyer wins!
Congrats on getting off (sorry not guilty). Lets see if he stays out of trouble?? CR blog that!
Whether or not he stays out of trouble…. How is that CR’s problem…. At the end of they day he won his case and got paid… So wats ya point????
I rather go in a safe jail. He has to worried about the guys that someone shot at.
ONCE AGAIN SUCK OUT 2 ALL A*S PULiC KEYBOARD LAMES.!!!! MY N%$GA IZ HOME.!!!!! STICK YA HEAD IN DA SAND.!!!! BIIG UP CHARLSE.., f%$# the hataz.!!!!! #MGT
Learn to spell charles….. azz
for real..on here ranting and cant spell to save ur life..go stick ur head in a book and learn how to address a situation maturely not like a damn ignorant fool
What was the sense for all the commotion at the time. May swell not even made a big deal out of it and not even arrested the guy.
I know one ting !! I pleaded not guilty as the man said I was using my cell phone while operating a vehicle !!
Let me not get off and I have solid evidence to prove my case !! I will be making an uproar !!
THE SYSTEM IS A FRAUD !!
Tired of the innocent suffering and the streets getting away with crime !!
It shows clearly,Polce have something against 42 & Somerset.Gariko I’m happy for you.
Mainly 42. This is exactly what i’ve been saying all the while. Crazy thing is that i have evidence but cant show it.
You do know the police is the biggest gang with the most power guns and guys right…. Smh
Open Your Eyes Bermuda
“Jah knows Rico!!!” Good to see you released baby, They don’t know why they Mad Tho!! Lol.. Bermudians are Ridiculous Mercy.
@ Joe Public
LMAO!!! Seems everyone else finds your comment inappropriate but I’m in stitches!! Tooo funny!!
JP 1 – CR nil
What a joke. The whole system is a joke. A real circus.
Blessing Young Man
God has blessed you in so many ways. YOU MUST GIVE THANKS. You have great parents and as my extended family. I had no doubt and am not surprised of the outcome. I am so glad that you are home and I am looking forward to seeing you soon. You would never dream of the people that had you in their prayers. I hope this eye opener makes you more aware of what God is all about. He’s able, so all you have to do is believe. He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Remember that always.
Love you Ganiko
Treat this like fb . NO MESSAGE if you are not a friend.
Are you out of your f*ck*ng mind? This is not FB! If someone you knew or loved was shot you would be singing an ENTIRELY different tune!
Treat this like fb . NO MESSAGE if you are not a friend. In other words I am trying to say if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. It’s too much negative energy up in here.
What Jah Blessed, Let NO MAN CURSE.
WOW! WOULD YOU LOOK @ THAT… Congratulations young man, you beat your case. Not better feeling in the world. Now leave the badness & go make something out of your life with the second chance God has gaven you. Bless, success & smiles.
Give someone enough rope…you know the rest. Watch yah back…badness follow you!
CR win some ya lose some,so ya won this time,maybe not so next time & you be the cry baby.
gotta love that remark..call my daddy.
all you so called hard boyz still say that huh?
call my daddy….ALL OF YOU ARE BIG BABIES!
@Nuffin but de Truth!: He told them to call his father because he was working with his father that day. And since he had never been in trouble with the law before he had no lawyer to tell them to call.
When read stuff take time to think on it. Don’t just go with what the news is trying to suggest it means.
How anyone could be happy for this young man is beyond me. The comments on here showing him support and happiness show why Bermuda is in the position its in today. The court system is a fraud. This guy was alleged to have committed a crime, was alleged to have gave the police a chase thru the island, and he gets to walk free!! Anyway I look forward to this guy being back into court and jail next year because with his track record he’ll be brought back very shortly. Enjoy your freedom for now. I bet you don’t make something of your life… We’ll see!!!!
Not to sure who u r and really don’t give a damn but for u to talk some bs about u bet he aint gonna make nothing out of his life is down right nasty !! Maybe u haven’t made nothing out of yours so ya hating on him. Get a life and make something out of it when u do get it. And regardless of a person’s track record. There is alway space for change # umjustsaying
I agree, not saying you have to applaud this guy (or any gang person) but if a fraud or off by luck give hope that he’ll improve instead of the negative. As said thts why Bda in a state as such – stay positive and pray for better. Giving up on those “not worth it” is just as bad as agreeing with them…
@Nigel Spider aka Cancer: What track record? This is the first time he has been to court and he was found not guilty. So shut up and stop hating!
Riko and CR do as Collie Buddz said be blind to the facking haters!
Take advantage of this gift and change your life….. yeah right.
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
To all of the anonymous bloggers who dont have the courage or conviction to express themselves as themselves……
You mean like the time you were doing that on here posting under another anonymous name bragging about how rich and fabulous you are? That dressing a certain way doesn’t make you a thug or criminal when in actual fact you are a criminal? LOL Don’t make me get the link. Bernews didn’t post my first comment for whatever reason-but yeah keep bragging. You believe your own hype too much.
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
Another sad day in the history of Bermuda’s legal and judicial system.
This has to be truly frustrating for the Police and all law-abiding citizens.
This kid will eventually fall on his own sword – and his arrogance will be his down-fall – as with many.
The police couldn’t prove it was him. He had an explanation why GSR was found on him.
Not guilty…..simple straight forward
Yeessss RikkoOoo Come Home Brahhhh We All Miss u ShottaHh<3
Bernews… A lit of idiots posting in support of this clown – don’t get to happy folks. Well be seeing this guy back into the jail system in less than a year. I’d bet on that.
@Nigel Spider aka Cancer: And your the biggest IDIOT! Because you can’t see that there was no evidence to say that he did this horrible crime. No one saw him riding the bike and no GSR was found no him!
Not only is he not guilty of this crime but he is INNOCENT!
And his DNA was not found on the bike!
What I donot understand is that the Police allegedly chased him from Hamilton to Sandys, isn’t this resisting arrest?
Young man I hope you take advantage of this golden opportunity to do something positive with your life, you could of been jailed for at least 15+ years, but you were spared that so please don’t throw it all away
Wow, Charles Richardson..what on earth are you doing on here? It is unbelievably unprofessional.
I was thinking the same thing! It’s appears he has some deep rooted issues in back of that intelligent brain of his.
Charles my brother don’t be little yourself. One day I hope to see you running as a Gov MP. As you see they take a great deal of verbal abuse from people on this site. You have nothing to prove, but don’t get cocky about it. Lead by example and don’t fuel your motivation with hate for the system.
“Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate.” – Dante.
Wait dd he at least sell out the friend that stashed the bike with gunpowder residue at his place? If not then this another botched case by bermy court system.
Congrats Rico… cant wait to see you….
This Jury must have been smoking crack
This is obviously a Charles Richardson imposter. It would be impossible that he be this stupid and immature. He probably doesn’t even know that some fool is using his name. However, if by the slim chance that it really is him – wow, unfawkingbelievable!!!
@ Charles Richardson: Charlie Roger, I’ve already shared with you how proud I am of your accomplishments. You have a right to your opinions and , just like the rest of us on this blog, the right to express them. Maya’s words are particularly apt, I have not followed Mr. Benjamin’s trial, so I have no opinion about his guilt or innocence. However, I recognize that there was considerable skill involved in presenting his case so that the verdict was given in your/his favour.
I have only one request of you, that you strive to always live in your highest. There is much to distract and detract, easy to become complacent, decadent, arrogant, to lose your sense of compassion. I know I am not the only one who prays for your continued well-being.
charlie
As someone who has been accused of a horrible crime with no evidence,
I find it very easy to believe that he is innocent.
A lot of us young blacks are being accused of things that we didn’t do. Some of us are even being charged. Bermuda is a small island and we all grew up together. I can’t help it if grew up 5 minutes away from someone that is involved in criminal activity. It doesn’t mean that I am involved in their world just because I haven’t forgotten their name and they mine.
He’s innocent, leave him alone.