A 14 year old standard 5 student was gunned down in December 2006 – the innocent victim of senseless violence. In this teenager’s case, he was simply caught in the crossfire of a gang war. And since then, Leonard Ghost Meyers has been on remand for the murder. Police said that Meyers, who was found near to the crime scene with his own gunshot injury, opened fire on the teenager, hitting him 7 times – simply because the child happened into the wrong area at the wrong time.
After an 18 month wait – the case went to trial at the end of April. He was tried for two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault, and one murder charge. The jury began deliberating just after lunch
and finished at about 4:30. The found him not guilty of all charges. Our court reporter Anita Nembhard caught up with him as he left the courtroom.
Leonard ‘Ghost’ Meyers, Acquitted
“It feels very great because I am innocent as the people can see. I feel like I am a victim of circumstances. The police just have something personal against me and I feel like the police officers need to be investigated.”
Anita Nembhard,
What are you going to do next, are you going to take any action against these officers for blaming you for something you never did?
Leonard ‘Ghost’ Meyers,
“I think I am going to sue them.”
Anita Nembhard,
How long were you incarcerated for?
Leonard ‘Ghost’ Meyers,
“A year and a half.”
Anita Nembhard,
What else you have to say to the public?
Leonard ‘Ghost’ Meyers,
“I just glad I am free.”
Hector Conorquie, Father of Deceased
“I feel like they are really unfair, everybody who was there, the jury. They didn’t really think. They must be scared for their lives and that’s why they made that decision.”
Anita Nembhard,
Mr. Ghost told us a few minutes ago that he framed, he was set up because he is not the person who shot your son. What do you have to say to him?
Hector Conorquie,
“He will say anything to get away. They had twelve juryman and they made a decision. They should have looked into this very good rather than hurry make a decision for a murder in two hours.”
Cynthia Conorquie, Mother of Deceased
“What I am feeling for my son, I can’t get over it because it hurts and everyday I think about my children, my son and daughter. They are always telling my son how his brother’s life gaan just like that. He didn’t do wrong nor nothing to nobody.”
In an unsworn statement from the dock Meyers told the court that he was not at the scene; he was nearby, heard shots, and ran and that’s when he was shot. It’s worth noting that in their testimony, the police officers had discrepancies in their accounts. It is consequential that the main witness – a 17 year old – who was supposedly the actual target of the shooter – did not appear to testify. His family apparently feared that if he had testified, he would have been targeted for retaliation. Meyers was defended by Dickie Bradley.
