By Fabian Ledgister, Freelance Reporter

Popular Spanish Town gang One Order's second in command, Everton 'Rado' Minott, was freed from charges on Tuesday, at the Gun Court in downtown, Kingston.

Minott had been on bail on charges of shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm, stemming from an incident on August 24, 2006 where the accused was alleged to have been involved in a shooting in Eltham Park, Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

The case was dismissed sine die, after the defendant's lawyer, George Soutar, made the request following several instances of absences of the prosecution's witnesses.

Minott was jailed on October 7, on the charges, and sent on three identification parades, all of which were not attended by the witnesses. The matter was mentioned on October 31, at the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court, where it was transferred to the Gun Court. On November 17, after no witnesses turned up for court, Minott was given bail, with conditions of reporting three times a week to the police.

After three more trial dates on December 8, March 7, and finally last Tuesday, where no witnesses turned up, the case was dismissed. Police told the courts that their failure to locate the witnesses was due to them being chased out of the community by residents.

Police told the courts that their failure to locate the witnesses was due to them being chased out of the community by residents.