The murder trial of 27-year-old Leroy Smith of Old Boat Alley and 26-year-old Tony Smith of Kelly’s Lane – the men who police believe are responsible for the 2012 shooting death of Tristan Bartlett continues in the Supreme Court before Senior Justice Jon Isaacs.
Taking the witness stand on Friday was John Charles, a friend of the deceased and the defendant Tony Smith aka Jamaal who recalled his memory of the night when Bartlett died.
Charles said it was around mid-night when he received a call from his mother in-law who informed him that the sounds of gun shots were heard near his mother’s residence on Comfort Street.
Immediately he ran from where he was staying on Anderson Street but never made it to his mother’s house, on the way he saw a group of people surrounding a green Honda Accord that he recognised.
He claimed that it was then that the defendant Tony Smith asked him to help the decease saying ‘this is my cousin, take him to the hospital.’
Charles said he found it difficult in his attempt to get into the car, and when he did, Bartlett was in the driver’s seat and his foot was still on the gas pedal having crashed into a wall or fence.
It was then that he noticed that Bartlett has suffered gunshot wounds to the head.
Charles said he moved Bartlett’s body over to the passenger seat and immediately drove the victim to Princess Margaret Hospital.
According to police reports on February 8 2012, Bartlett was sitting in the driver’s seat of a green Honda when he was approached by five men, two of whom were armed with handguns.
The men opened fire on the vehicle resulting in the victim being shot twice in his head, Bartlett died at the hospital.
Representing Tony Smith is attorney Murrio Ducille while Leroy Smith is represented by attorney Michael Kemp.
Lead prosecutor in the case is Darnell Dorsett.
The trial will resume in the Supreme Court today at 11:00 a.m.