A 12-member jury has found Colwyn Alex Croal guilty of discharging a loaded firearm with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm to Sherwin Hughes.
The verdict was reached on February 21, 2025, followed a trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court.
Croal was initially charged with attempted murder, but the jury acquitted him of that offence by a 10-2 verdict. However, they unanimously convicted him on the alternative charge.
The charges stemmed from an April 2, 2016, shooting incident in Linden. On that night, Croal reportedly assaulted his wife, Simone Belle Croal, at her cousin Sherwin Hughes’ market stall, throwing a glass bottle at her. Hughes and his wife later took Simone to the Linden Hospital for treatment and, upon returning to drop her home in Silver City, were ambushed by Croal.
As Hughes attempted to reverse his vehicle upon noticing Croal’s daughter signaling him not to stop, Croal ran toward the car and opened fire. Hughes was shot in the arm and back, while Simone, seated in the front passenger seat, was also injured. Both were rushed to the hospital, and Hughes was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for surgery. The bullets remain lodged in his body to this day.
Following the attack, Croal fled Linden, prompting authorities to issue a wanted bulletin. On May 26, 2016, police apprehended him in Tabatinga during a drug raid, where he provided a false name. He was later identified and transported to Sparendaam where he was officially charged.
The trial commenced on February 18, 2025, with State Counsel Christopher Belfield leading the prosecution, assisted by Taneisha Saygon. Defence attorney Donovan Rangiah argued a lack of sufficient identification evidence, but the prosecution maintained that Hughes and his wife had known Croal for over 40 years, making mistaken identity implausible.
Croal, in his defence, gave an unsworn statement claiming police victimization due to his community work. He presented an alibi, asserting that he was in Mahdia from March 26 to May 28, 2016. Two witnesses, Teon February and Louise Fredricks, testified in support of this claim, but their testimonies conflicted with police records. Neither had provided statements or testified in earlier proceedings, and their claims were challenged by the prosecution.
After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned with their split verdict, convicting Croal on the lesser charge.
Croal now awaits sentencing.
