Sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison for the murder of taxi driver Orin David, ex-soldier Jermaine Jefford has appealed his conviction, arguing among other things that the trial judge misdirected the jury on the law as it relates to murder.
He says, too, that the judge misdirected the jury on issues of identification evidence and the dangers of relying on dock identification of an accused person.
His contention before the Guyana Court of Appeal is also that the judge failed to fully and properly direct the jury on the defences he raised Jefford argues through his attorney Stanley Moore SC, that in all the circumstances the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and could not be supported having regard to the evidence.
The appellate court will eventually fix a date to hear Jefford’s appeal. Jefford was unanimously convicted by a jury for the execution-style killing of David whom he shot in broad daylight in the presence of family and neighbours.
David, of Lot 89 Laing Avenue, was reportedly drinking alcohol with friends and relatives near his house when he was approached by two persons whom he knew.
The three men engaged in a conversation away from the drinking and were later seen arguing over what was reported to have been money owed to David. Stabroek News had previously reported that an eyewitness had said the two men left and returned with others, while pointing out that when the two men returned, two vehicles and two motorcycles with men came with them.
The eyewitness had spoken of observing one of the men trying to hide a big gun.
It was when David began walking back to the men that the man with the gun pulled it out and fired three shots, hitting David.
