Raziel Jeffers was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison on 23 February in connection with a shooting that killed Marcus Ebanks, as well as left a 14-year-old boy paralysed and wounded another victim.
The incident took place on 8 July, 2009, in a yard in the Bonaventure area of West Bay in Grand Cayman.
In handing down his ruling, Justice Charles Quin recounted the evidence given during the trial, with particular focus on the testimony of two Crown witnesses.
One of the witnesses, Megan Martinez is the mother of the defendant’s child. In her evidence, she said she had seen Jeffers with guns and that he had shown her a particular gun, which he referred to as “Gramps”. She told the court Jeffers had shown her an AK-47, as well as other guns.
Ms Martinez said on the night of the murder, Jeffers had come to the place where they were staying at the time with another man, who he had told her also had a stash of guns. She said the two spent time talking and smoking behind the home before he said he was leaving with the man to go to the area of George Town known as Scranton to get some fishing done. According to Ms Martinez, the term was slang for hunting your enemies. Justice Henderson said the young lady testified she had a bad feeling about what might happen.
Later that night, Ms Martinez said Jeffers called her to tell her he would not be coming home and would be staying at a friend’s house. She said he had stayed the night with her every other night before that occasion. However, he explained to her that Joseph Hurlstone’s yard had been shot up and he did not want to come home because he thought the police wouldn’t believe that he had nothing to do with it.
Later that night, Jeffers was arrested on suspicion of murder at a home in Bodden Town. Ms Martinez said she did not see him again until he was released on 18 July, 2009. She said months later, in early 2010, after the death of 4-year-old Jeremiah Barnes in another incident, she and Jeffers were discussing the subject of innocent people dying. Ms Martinez said it was at this time Jeffers confessed his involvement in the murder of Marcus Ebanks, saying he thought he was Jose Sanchez, also known as Peto and that he had shot Marcus by mistake.
Justice Quin said he was mindful that Ms Martinez lied to the police after the incident, but said he accepted her reasons – being the guardian of Jeffers and the mother of his child, as well as in fear – as true. He said he believed her testimony that she decided to come forward after being locked out of the home she shared with Jeffers.
Justice Quin said he also was convinced that eyewitness testimony offered by Adrian Powell, who had been paralysed in the incident about seeing Jeffers and recognising him when one of the shirts on his head came off and revealed his face was accurate despite the circumstances. He said he believed Powell when he said he was compelled to come forward after hearing about the death of Marcus Ebanks and learning that he would be paralysed.
The judge also said gunshot residue found on a pack of Rizzlas in the defendants pockets and cell phone records corroborating Martinez’ account of Jeffers’ movements on the night of the murder were compelling.
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