Man freed after 3 years in lock-up, judge tosses case for lack of evidence

A man accused of shooting a taxi driver during an alleged robbery attempt has been freed of gun and robbery charges after spending three years behind bars.

Twenty-five-year-old Royon Baker of Smith Lane, Kingston, was freed last Monday in the Gun Court.

Baker had been charged and indicted with using a firearm to commit a felony, assault with intent to rob, and wounding with intent stemming from a December 14, 2022 incident in which he was accused of attempting to rob a taxi operator at gunpoint in downtown Kingston.

According to the allegations, Baker was reportedly among a group of men who held up the cab driver, tried to steal his vehicle, and later shot him during a struggle.

However, at the close of the prosecution's case, Attorney-at-Law Javed Grant successfully argued in a no-case submission that the Crown had failed to establish that Baker had any knowledge of a firearm or participated in the attempted robbery.

Grant argued that while Baker was present at the scene, there was no evidence linking him to the weapon, the shooting, or any joint enterprise to rob the complainant.

Justice Tara Carr upheld the submissions, ruling that the prosecution had not proven any of the offences on the indictment. The judge noted that any inference of knowledge or participation by Baker would "be a stretch," and ordered his release.

Police reports initially alleged that around 8:15 p.m. on the night in question, the complainant was operating his taxi in downtown Kingston when Baker, said to be a passenger, pulled a firearm and demanded the vehicle. The vehicle later crashed into a utility pole, after which the taxi operator was shot and the assailant escaped.

Baker was later arrested during a police operation at his home and charged.

- Tanesha Mundle

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