`Dog Paw’ gets 15 years

(Jamaica Observer) Reputed Tavern gang leader Christopher ‘Dog Paw’ Linton and co-accused Micah Allen were yesterday sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in the High Court Division of the Gun Court.

Both men were convicted early last month for shooting at two police officers who were travelling in a service vehicle along Tavern Drive, St Andrew, in April 2010. A third accused, Ricardo Jones, was freed in January on a no-case submission, as the prosecution was unable to show that he was among the men who allegedly shot at the police on the night in question.

Appeals are expected to be filed by the men’s legal team.

Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton
Christopher ‘Dog Paw’ Linton

The sentencing came a day after reports surfaced that Linton was allegedly beaten by security personnel in the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston.

The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the alleged incident.

Yesterday, in handing down the sentence, Justice Sarah Thompson-James said she found the men redeemable, while noting the seriousness of the crime.

The police had said that Linton and Allen — members of the Dog Paw Gang — had terrorised the people of August Town and surrounding communities for several years.

Linton is to be tried in the Home Circuit Court for the 2010 murder of a family from the Bedward community in the area.