By Kimone Witter
A police constable was on Monday freed of unlawful wounding and making a false declaration, contrary to section 33 of the INDECOM Act, following a no case submission by his attorneys in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court.
Kemmar Hutchinson, 35, was charged in relation to the shooting of a man in the Love Lane/Charles Street area of Kingston on February 28, 2021.
It's reported that on the day, Constable Hutchinson was travelling with another police officer in a service vehicle when he saw the complainant walking and acting suspiciously.
The man reportedly attempted to flee and disobeyed commands to stop.
In his statement to INDECOM, Constable Hutchinson said he shot the complainant after he pulled a firearm from his waist and pointed it in his direction.
The prosecution relied on Closed Circuit Television footage which captured part of the altercation.
However, at the trial, attorneys Peter Champagnie, KC, and Samoi Campbell argued that critical aspects of the incident were not fully captured in the video presented to the court.
They also pointed out that there was evidence that the complainant was charged with the offences of illegal possession of firearm and assault after a gun was recovered from him during the incident.
At the time, there was also a warrant out for his arrest.
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