A Crown witness on Wednesday named a different shooter in the trial of three men accused of killing Omar Barton Samuels in July 2009.

Witness Marcus Steve Manderson told the court that Mr. Samuels called the name “Martin” when asked who shot him on the night of 4 July 2009.

The three men accused of Mr. Samuels’ murder, Patrick Elbert McField, Osbourne Wilfred Douglas and Brandon Leslie Ebanks, were identified by the Crown’s first witness, a 16-year-old girl.

Mr. Samuels, who was shot in the leg, bled to death.

Mr. Manderson told the court he did not remember giving police a statement five days after the event, though he agreed the signature on the statement looked like his, and that he could not recall things contained in the statement.

He said that all he remembered of the night was tying up Mr. Samuels’ leg. When he saw Mr. Samuels on the ground, he asked what happened. Mr. Samuels asked him for help and told him ‘Martin’ shot him and took his gun.

The witness did not tell police that. “I figure he would tell police ‘cause he wasn’t dead.”

According to the July 2009 statement, which Mr. Manderson said he did not recall giving, he had said Mr. Samuels told him “Them man they shoot me and take away me gun.”

Questioned by Solicitor General Cheryll Richards, he told the court, “I don’t remember saying that.”

Asked if “Them man they” refers to more than one person, he replied, “I cannot say.”

Ms Richards said, “Let me suggest you have come here today to tell a lie to this court, to be untruthful?”

“No, ma’am,” he replied.

She said he seemed determined to say “I don’t remember” in answer to her questions: “Has anyone told you to say that?, she asked.

“No, ma’am,” he said.

He also said he did not recall seeing Mr. Samuels and Patrick McField look like they were arguing at Peppers Night Club earlier that night.

In response to further questioning he said, “I don’t remember because I was drunk.”

“Not only do you not want to give evidence, you are making up something new,” Ms Richards said.

“No, I’m not,” he answered.

He said he did not recall Martin’s name at first because he was in fear. He said he was still in fear “because I don’t know who he is.”

Under questioning by Trevor Burke QC, Mr. Manderson agreed that Mr. Samuels did not want the identity of the person who shot him known to the police.

He also agreed he told prosecutors last month that if he were called to give evidence, he would say ‘Martin’.