By Racquel Porter
Javon Weise, the man accused of shooting at three police officers in Bull Bay, St Andrew in 2023, has been acquitted.
Mr Weise, who was represented by Vincent Wellesley, had been on trial since last year.
He was acquitted on Thursday, with Justice Carolyn Tie Powell handing down a not guilty verdict.
During the trial three cops testified that they visited Mr Weise's community on February 13, 2023, after they were informed of an upsurge in gang activities.
They said when they arrived they heard explosions sounding like gunfire.
The police further reported that they observed three men on a verandah who ran as they approached.
The cops said they they went in pursuit of the men who allegedly ran in various directions.
According to the police, they saw Mr Weise, who was not wearing a shirt, running with a firearm in his hand. They said Mr Weise shot at them and they returned, fire hitting him.
But Mr Weise gave a different account, stating he was at a house using the internet when he heard explosions and ran.
Mr Weise, who said he sought refuge in a gully, said he thought gunmen had shot him but he later found out that it was the police.
He was taken to Kingston Public Hospital where he received treatment and then taken to the Port Royal police station.
During cross-examination, it was revealed that only the Independent Commission of Investigations [INDECOM], which is not a police agency, had processed the crime scene.
The judge, in handing down the verdict, raised the issue of credibility.
She pointed out that the investigator testified that he saw a spent casing but it was inconsistent with where the accused was running.
No spent casing was recovered where the cops said the accused fired at them.
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