CONTRACTOR CONVICTED OVER SHOOTING OF HIS EMPLOYEE

Desbones St John is facing up to 35 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of shooting one of his workers with intent to murder him.
The contractor shot James Elliot during an altercation in Barbuda on March 25, 2018.
The court heard the defendant rested his firearm on Elliot’s lips and pulled the trigger.
A bullet burst the complainant’s lips and damaged his jaw, before lodging in his head.
At the trial, St John claimed accident and self-defence, arguing Elliot had attacked him and another worker had pointed a gun at him during the altercation.
After deliberating for three hours, eight of the nine jurors decided St John was guilty of the offence.
He will learn his fate at a sentencing hearing December 13, 2022.
Defence attorney Wendel Robinson represented the defendant and crown counsel Sean Nelson led the prosecution’s case.