Jury Hears Man Opened Fire, Stole Bike
[Updated] A 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, a Supreme Court jury heard this morning [June 14].
Gariko 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.
The prosecutor told the jury that Mr Benjamin rode into the Mount Hill/Overview Lane area of Pembroke, where it is alleged he fired shots at the home of two brother [Sadune and Jahfari Raynor]. The defendant was alleged to have arrived on a dark motorcycle with another person, both wearing dark clothes and dark full face visors.
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.
During the police chase, Mr Benjamin is alleged to have refused to stop, been doing “wheelies”, and was said by a police officer to have been doing speeds exceeding 100km/h.
Update 8.32pm: Mr Benjamin broke down in tears when he was arrested, a Supreme Court jury heard this afternoon.
Two police officers gave evidence this afternoon with both saying that said that they heard Mr Benjamin 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.”
Both said that the defendant had patted his right side while saying that. Responding to Crown Prosecutor Garrett Byrne, the first police witness said that she had felt threatened by Mr Benjamin’s words.
The second police witness said that once Mr Benjamin had been arrested for using threatening words and after he had been handcuffed, Mr Benjamin had tears running down his face and had said: “Call my Daddy.”
The second police witness testified that at the time of arrest, police had taken possession of Mr Benjamin’s Blackberry cellphone. This witness said that police had listened to voice messages that were on it.
One message was played back to the jury who were told that this message had been sent around the time that police were first coming onto the grounds of Mr Benjamin’s residence.
This message was: “Yo bra… I’m home… They’re all over my f—king yard… So much of ‘em running up and down…”
Defence lawyer Charles Richardson closely cross-examined the second police officer after determining that according to her written statement, the Blackberry cellphone had been confiscated on 25th January 2012, but had not been listened to until 12th June 2012.
Mr Richardson also closely cross-examined each police witness on the fact that each had first written their statements and had then made personal ‘notes’. Mr Richardson averred that this was the reverse of commonly accepted or best or recommended practice.
The shooting Mr Benjamin is charged with occurred at around 10:30am on January 25th 2012 in the Mount Hill/ Overview Hill area in Pembroke. He denies all charges, and the trial continues.
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Keep ya head up Garry I miss u
Free GArry</#
Thirsty.
Agreed. He has a girlfriend. Are you there supporting him? NO she is.
you seriously have the nerve to label yourself classy girl, then proceed to say you miss this alleged thug SMDH
Defending the indefensible!! Seems you’re not so classy.
These ignant little groupies!! SMDH Grow up lil Girl!
Ms Dopey!
Free Gary! Stay Up Bra!
Oh i wish you simple girls would stop syaing dumb crap like free so and so…. TO BAD GET OVER IT!!!! DONT DO THE CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME
blah blahhhh…. he got off so how you feel…… cant wait till its someone you know whos in the cross fire….
Stupid animal! Get a job.
this kid is just dopey
Props to his ridin skills. No further props to his stupidity!
hahahaha
Keep yuh head up rico I miss you see you soon .xo
Funny, they are all tough with a gun in their hand. Real tough. Without the gun, he will crap himself when he sees a lizard.
Punk
Alleged. That means innocent until proven guilty. Daaammmnn
And I thought that was Babba Stewart flying motox bike lol!!!!!
Big alleged gunman crying for daddy . You should be home in your furry bed , but , instead you chose to listen to and follow stupid idiots who don’t care for you or your Daddy .
FREE MY N$#GAA!!
Free your own “N$#GAA!!”
Not my job, dun!
stfu
You’re not going to cry are you?
Why do people always say keep ya head up???? wtf..if he was charged with doing something honorable like shot at someone that raped his mother or sister or daughter then i would say keep ya head up..however we know thats not the case…keep ya head down and be ashamed of your alleged actions…crying for your daddy..smh
Serious?! INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY!! Give the guy a break cha man.
Were you there? Do you know that he actually said these things? And no I don’t know him from a can of paint. If you are young and get into sh!t, the first person you call to handle ya biz is the ones closest to you! Next….
Well if his “Daddy” is the “Closest” to him, then it kinda makes you wonder what he has taught him or what their “Actual” relationship. Cus i higly doubt if his daddy condones this behavious. Chances are the people that he “hangs” with are the ones that are closest to him cause those are the ones that he is “choosing” to listen to.
It is so funny how all you people can criticise this young man when he is ALLEGEDLY Charged for his crime…. Before you all pass judgement let the proceedings take place and see if he is indeed found GUILTY. It’s so easy for your all to make a comment on an article when noone can see your face. Before you cast stones make sure you DONT LIVE IN A GLASS HOUSE….This young man live very close to me and no family deserves to go through something like this. Riko keep ya head up….INNOCENT UNTIL PRIVEN GUILTY!! Bermudians are such A^& HOLES!!
Ha ha what a cry baby………
Hold up!
Are you Bermudian? If so are u like the exception to “YOUR” A^&hole rule? And if your not Bermudian and u really feel that way “Getfromrounhea” or spcify “some” Thankyah
Don’t keep your head up Garry. Realize you’re an idiot supported by other idiots.
Lock him up and throw away the key.
FREE GARRY!! EFF ALL YOU HATERS< STRAIGHT UP YO. BET YOU AINT GOT THE BALLS TO SAY IT TO HIS FACE!! :/
Yeah, I surely wouldn’t have the balls to tell him what I thought of him to his face. He might bust out crying all over my clean shoes…wouldn’t want that at all.
Clown.
all u haters lay down! the hardest stone cold killers in the world cry! crying dont mean ur a sissy.dont sound so stupid. #laydownfools. stop hating on somerset people. #keepitclean!
Yeah right……
did you really just hash tag something in a bernews comment? LOL.
Rico n family stay to the wicket eff the haters serz.
@ ONLOOKER, NOW YA GONE TOO FAR.! GUESS WHAT I AM A BERMUDIAN I AM YAKING WHAT YOU SAID PERSONAL! AND BEFORE YOU START DISSING BERMUDIANS YOU SHOULD LEAVE BERMUDA OR BETTER YET GO ON THE RADIO OR NEWS TONIGHT AND SAY WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT BERMUDIANS WITH YOUR NAME AND FACE EXPOSED! REAL TALK ONLOOKER I WOULD MAKE A WAY TO GIVE YOU $500 DOLLARS TO DO THAT!BET YOU WOULDN’T DO IT! ACTUALLY I WILL DOUBLE IT! Please email me at mds@hotmail.com if ya serious!
are you a special needs person?
@ ptmyj. Did this person ever give you the impression that they were not Bermudian or that they are an expat or guest worker? Onlooker said Bermudians are a$$h0l$e not necessarily meaning that the/she was not Bermudian themselves. Stop trying to make this political or about country. This guy is a wannabe thug simple as that, I won’t even label him a thug because as soon as he gets caught he cries for DADDY. BOO HOO, DON’T DROP THE SOAP GARRY.
Wow people, stop stickin up for the guy cuz he’s your friend, if anything, learn from this. Stop doing your YOLO crap and realize the real world isn’t so kind to you thug life wannabes. Bermy is way too small to do all this nonsense. Get yah act together youngins.
hmm…wisdom, positivity deftly needs to be continously encouraged here on island
@ PLEASE TELL ME YA JOKIN…… I BEG U PLEASE., make yaself known who R u??? I BET MY LIFE ON IT U WON’T REPEAT ANYthing ya said on here 2 ANY1 of this guyz friends or family.., lay down u keyboard LAME.., jus make yaself known PLEASE damn chump… @ jonas @ um um @ old furbets kettle -_- pls state ya name
Why don’t you state your name
ALL U F&€K PEOPLE ON HERE STi€K YA DAMN HEAD IN DA SAND LAMES
You can’t even form a proper sentence, who is the lame one I ask?
Poor guy. We should pity him. He was probably educated by the UBP.
the price for being a follower !!!! all of the role models must have been on vacation !!!!!
All of you are BORED! None of what you think matters at the end of the day. Bernews can really gas people up. LMAO
I say let him go. He could represent Bermuda for motorcross! James Stewart aint got nothing on this guy! LOL!
ALL U LAME ASS HEAD STUCK IN THA SAND FA%$#S GO …….MY. MY NI%$A COMIN HOME U F$#K BOYZ