Jury to decide his fate on Monday
By Monique Washington
A young man from Cotton Ground may face prison if he is found guilty of stealing empty shopping bags, attempt to rob and robbery.
Delano Browne of Cotton Ground faced Madam Justice Lorraine Williams and a 12 member jury of five men and seven women on Tuesday and pled not guilty to three counts of assault with intent to rob and one count of robbery. Lead defence counsel Dr. Henry Browne Queens Counsel (Q.C.) represented Delano Browne.
The prosecution team, led by Q.C. Dane Hamilton advised there will be eight witnesses. First to the stand was Greg Salgon.
According to Salgon’s testimony, on May 1, 2013, he and his wife, Evelyn, accompanied another couple Terence and Eva Neve, went for dinner at the Yachtmans’ Grill in Cotton Ground. After they left the restaurant, Terence, Eva and Evelyn went to the parking lot, while he stayed behind to talk to a friend.
“When I was walking to the parking lot I saw a small figure dressed in black, dancing and pointing a gun at Terry,” Salgon said. “It took me some time before I realized that Terry was being robbed.”
Salgon testified he then saw a second, taller person turn and notice him standing by his car and begin to walk towards him.
“I had my licensed hand gun in my pocket (sig Sauer 380) and struggled to get it out,” Salgon explained. The individual appeared to have a gun pointing at me. I then got my gun out and shot the individual. They made a noise like pain and ran to the middle of the parking lot. Both men ran to the far end of the parking lot and I shot three more times. And they ran into the bush,” Salgon explained.
On cross, Dr. Browne asked Salgon if he could make a positive determination if the person who tried to rob them was male or female. Salgon said no because they were dressed all in black, their faces were masked and they wore hoodies.
Second to the stand for the prosecution was Evelyn Salgon. She testified that while on her way to the parking lot with the Neve’s, a man jumped out wearing all black and body covered except for their eyes.
“A man, a little shorter than me (her height is about 5’2) was jumping around agitated. He had a gun and it was raised high. He went towards Terry and said “give me your money, man.” Terry answered I don’t have any money mate. I saw Terry pull out a pack of gum and the gun man took it. Terry told him not to take his gum,” she said.
She testified that the gunman then approached her and placed the gun to her head.
“I put my hand up to shield my head from the gun,” Mrs. Salgon said. “All I had was two grocery bags and he took the bags. I then noticed a second gunman and saw my husband. The two gunmen began to advance toward my husband and I saw my husband pull out his gun. I heard a gunshot but wasn’t sure whose gun went off. I heard the taller man moan, then my husband shot three more times and the men ran, dropping one of my bags.”
On cross, Dr. Browne also asked Mrs. Salgon if the persons were male or female. She said male because she didn’t see any curves.
Third to the stand was Constable Rohan Labored. He testified that on May 2, 2013, he and other officers went to the home of Delano brown in Cotton Ground. He said he stayed in the police transport while the other officers spoke to Browne’s mother.
“I saw Browne walking toward the gate and observed he had a swollen right ankle,” Constable Labored said. “Officer Charles handed him over to me and I accompanied him to the hospital. Blood was coming from his foot. At the hospital he was seen by Dr. Robert George. Dr. George operated on him (Browne) in my presence and removed a bullet from his right foot.”
The constable said he saw Dr. George place the bullet in a transparent plastic bag, sign it, hand it over to him and he signed it. He added that when he got to the police station he handed the plastic bag with its content to investigating officer Keshawn Charles.
Forth to the stand was the investigator constable Keshawn Charles. Charles testified on May 2, 2013, he and other officers went to the home of Browne. He saw Browne at his home and saw a puncture wound on his foot. He asked Browne what was wrong and he said that he fell on a piece of steel to the back of his house.
“I offered to have him transported to the hospital and he said ok,” Charles testified. “I then executed a search warrant of the premises in the presence of his mother. I removed a number of pieces of cloth which were covered with a red substance suspected to be blood. I saw Browne later at the Charlestown police station and asked him how he got the bullet in his right foot. He told me that someone shot him last night outside his house.”
Browne was cautioned and was told that he was suspected to have committed a robbery on May 1. Charles said that Browne’s reply was that he didn’t rob anybody and, “I have nothing more to say”.
In Charles testimony he stated that Salgon’s firearm was tested and matched to the bullet found in Browne’s foot. He said the gun was tested in his presence. He further stated that during his investigation he removed four spent shells from the scene of the crime.
On cross, Dr. Browne questioned Charles about where he found the spent shell. He repeated that they were found at the crime scene. Dr. Browne pointed out that on the evidence box in which the shells were placed, on the top corner it read “found on the front seat of PA2705” Greg Salgon’s vehicle. Charles told the court he was just repeating what officer Antonio Browne told him.
Dr. Browne questioned him about the report he took from Delano Browne and why it was presented in court, Charles said that they are in his pocket book.
“Where is your pocketbook?” Dr.Browneasked.
“In my pocket,” Charles replied.
Fifth to the stand was ballistic specialist Derrick Shankar.
Shankar testified he test fired the gun of Greg Salgon by firing four rounds, the rounds were matched to the bullet removed from Browne’s leg. He stated that the only officer who was present was “Officer Challenger.”
Sixth to the stand was Officer Antoni Browne who helped to work the crime scene the day of the robbery.
Seventh was Officer Damian Challenger who is stationed at the Basseterre’s police station in St. Kitts . He testified that he was present during the ballistic testing with Derrick Shankar.
The final witness for the prosecution was Dr. Robert George. Dr. George testified he saw Delano Browne on May 2 2013 for an injury to his right foot. He performed an operation and extracted one bullet which he placed into a transparent plastic bag and signed his name on it.
After the prosecution rested Justice Williams adjourned court until Monday April 11 where she will give her summation and the jury will render its decision.
