Faced with the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars, the leader of the Clansman-One Don Gang, Andre 'Blackman' Bryan, argued that his fellow gangsters should be pardoned for their crimes.
Bryan was found guilty of being the leader of a criminal organisation and of seven counts of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment.
Yesterday, on a rambling address before Chief Justice Bryan Sykes in the Supreme Court, Bryan said he was in charge of the gangs, adding that he gave orders.
"All these accused, they have been around me, yes, but they don't know. They only see what the eye sees," he said.
"The truth must be told. I give orders, instructions. They were all under influence, the same to the witnesses weh get pardoned," Bryan continued.
The 33-year-old said the Crown witnesses were "pardoned" and wondered aloud who gave them the reprieve.
"Me nuh know who pardon dem. My precept, all of them should have been pardoned and you take me in account," Bryan said of his fellow defendants.
However, one expert who this newspaper will not name for security reasons, said Bryan's address to the court was calculated. He said that the gangster has sought to make himself out to be a martyr so he can earn respect from prisoners while maintaining his influence in his Spanish Town community.
Bryan and 14 others are currently before the court for sentencing after being convicted of several crimes under the Anti-Gang Act earlier this year.
