Barbara Gayle, Star Writer

A farmer who said it was politics which landed him in the Gun Court was freed yesterday after Justice Nicole Simmons upheld a no-case submission.

Shunga Sylvester, 28, from Bellas Gate, St Catherine, was freed of illegal possession of firearm and unlawful wounding. He was freed after Justice Simmons upheld submissions from attorney-at-law Floyd Green that there were too many inconsistencies in the Crown's case.

The complainant said on the night of December 29, 2011, Sylvester jumped out of bushes in Bellas Gate and used a gun to hit him him over the left eye, wounding him.

Sylvester went to the police station and reported that he and the complainant had an argument over politics. Sylvester said it was election night and the complainant was chasing him out of the community saying his side had lost. During the heated argument, Sylvester said he boxed the complainant and the chaparita on his hand cut the complainant over the eye.

Under cross-examination, the investigating officer said when Sylvester came to the station, he saw what appeared to be blood on the chaparita.

The complainant said he saw the gun for three minutes but under cross-examination, admitted telling the police that he had seen it for only 10 seconds. The complainant said when Sylvester came out the bushes, he came to his right side. However, he later changed his testimony to say that the accused came in front of him.

After the Crown closed its case, Green submitted that Sylvester should be freed because the complainant was not speaking the truth. Justice Simmons agreed and acquitted Sylvester.