Man gets 16 years for part in deadly gunfight
(CNS): Mikkyle Brandon Leslie (36) was handed a 16-year prison term on Wednesday for his part in a gang-related shoot-out at a bar in Central George Town last summer in which two men lost their lives and two others were wounded. When the unknown killer had begun shooting outside the Globe Bar on Martin Drive on 1 July 2021, Leslie had returned fire, as he was unlawfully armed at the time with an unlicensed semi-automatic 9mm pistol. Leslie then escaped from the scene uninjured.
Leslie, also known as Brandon Leslie-Ebanks, was initially a suspect in the murder of Mark Andre Ebanks (36), who died at the scene, and Eldon Charles Walton (55), who died in hospital two weeks later. However, he was ultimately only charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
Leslie was arrested at the airport shortly after the shoot-out on suspicion of murder but it was soon clear he was not the killer. Nevertheless, CCTV and other evidence, including Leslie’s own phone messages, all pointed to the fact that he was armed with an illegal weapon that he had used.
Leslie, Ebanks, Walton and two other people had been shot at by the killer while they were drinking and chatting outside the bar. But when the shooting started, Leslie had fired back and then run from the scene unscathed. No one has been charged with the murder of either Ebanks or Walton.
Their deaths were followed just over a week later, on 9 July, by another gang-related shooting in George Town, which police believed was connected. Wayne Eron McLean was murdered and five other people were injured at Vic’s bar in the industrial area when a gunman burst into that bar and opened fire. Murder and attempted murder charges against Ezekiel Carter (36) for the murder of McLean were dropped by the crown in November.
So far, Leslie is the only person who has been convicted in connection with last summer’s spate of gang-related shootings and killings.
Despite Leslie’s claims of self-defence in mitigation, Justice Phillip St John-Stevens, who had presided over the judge-alone trial, said his immersion in the gun culture had aggravated the circumstances of his case. He pointed out that he had gone out for a drink with friends in a public place armed with a semi-automatic loaded weapon without any lawful justification. He had fired the weapon on several occasions and then proceeded to brag about his involvement in the gunfight in social media messages.
During the trial, Leslie, who is Caymanian, had denied the charges and claimed that in the messages he was just bragging to friends he was trying to impress in the United States, where he was living before the shooting. He claimed that he did not have a gun and had left the scene before the shooting. But although some of the messages did appear to be an exaggeration of his part in the shoot-out, evidence indicated that Leslie was present when the unknown killer had opened fire. Leslie was also caught on CCTV running from the scene minutes after the first shot was fired.
Given the circumstances of the offender and the offence, and concern in Cayman society that gun violence is escalating because of the young men who possess illegal guns, the judge said the mandatory minimum sentence for the possession of an unlicensed weapon had to be increased in this case. He also noted that Leslie was convicted in Florida in 2013 for conspiracy to import guns into the Cayman Islands, including a weapon that was used in a crime here.
As he handed down the 16-year sentence, the judge said that the time Leslie spent on electronic curfew before being remanded and the time he has already served on remand, which totalled 413 days, would be taken into consideration.
Leslie was also convicted in 2010 of the murder of Omar Samuels in McField Lane, George Town, in 2009. But he and two other men were acquitted in 2011 by the Court of Appeal. It was therefore not taken into consideration in this trial.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
It’s a pity that Cayman prosecutors only go for the lead criminal charge and forgive all the other supporting criminal acts that underpin the case. In some countries these punks would face the full list of criminal counts and never see the outside again. That would be a welcome deterrent.
Good job, Judge. This sentence is just what is needed to help fight the violent crime on Cayman. Hope it’s a continuing trend.
Anyone found with an unlicensed firearm, should get an automatic 15 year sentence!! All firearms are used for is killing, either for animals or humans!! Praying that the world would ban and stop producing firearms, but the profits are too high. Lord, what a wicked world!!!
If it was a Jamaican George would be calling for the death penalty
Huh? WTH George ?
Hold on. Wait a sec. Leslie had a gun! Leslie participated in a shoot-out! And a person was murdered at the scene!
Leslie had an unlicensed semi-automatic 9mm pistol! Where did he get that from? Why was he involved in a shoot-out? Is he the one responsible for the murder? Does he have intentions of retaliation when he gets out of prison? Obviously, he is a threat to the community. Yet … you say a 16 year sentence is too excessive ???
BOUT TIME! Lock him up and throw away the key! The sentence is more than fair. Now RCIPS needs find ALL the players involved in this shooting and Vic’s bar shooting and give them all similar sentences please.
Brandon has been a known gunman for decades now. Anyone defending him should go share a cell with him!
This is a prime example of rather be caught with it than without it. Brandon was not the target or he would have been hit by element of surprise the victims were not criminals or in gangs Walton was 50years old mark was honest hard-working everyday to provide for his family this was a random act of a mass shooting on innocent people Brandon saw what was happening and fired back making the (KNOWN) assailants retreat and back away otherwise there would have been more innocent casualties he was lucky to be there to help save lives in other countries where mass shootings occur bystanders and witnesses wished they had a firearm or self defense to neutralize the suspect or deter them but instead you have dozens of innocent victims. That would have been the case here if Brandon never defended the lives of the people in the public that night. That doesn’t give him the right but he should have been given 10years.16 years is alot but it’s better than death or his friends and families being killed in a apparant negligent mass shooting. When a gunman comes into your place of peace to harm you or loved ones you all will be the same ones wishing you could have fired back.
Why I said known assailants because they were SHOT allegedly by Brandon they showed up to the hospital with gunshot wounds and were arrested for murder and then let free by the police tell me if that makes sense.
Yawn, go tell this to Omar Samuels’ family!! Or any other family that Brandon has been involved in harming a loved one of theirs. Stop finding excuses for his choices. He deserves way more than 16 years if you accumulate all that he got away with over the years! This judge did the right thing and we the INNOCENT people of these islands are sick of wanna be bad men roaming our streets.
To put it more simply, if Brandon wasn’t playing with fire in the first place, he wouldn’t have to worry about getting burnt aka being armed with an illegal weapon. Simple as that but don’t worry, unna can still visit him each week. That’s more than can be said for his previous victims!
He had nothing to do with Omar’s death that’s what witnesses said that testified that’s why he was acquitted. Fyi
FYI – those who attended the court hearing for Omar’s death remember the facts of that trial all too well. It’s called: WITNESS INTIMIDATION.
Please go read up on it since you have so much to defend….
Eye witness quote from CaymanCompass’ article – ‘After that, she saw the man with the hat riding his bicycle through her friend’s yard every two days. “We got scared so we just went to the police station.”
https://www.caymancompass.com/2010/09/09/second-young-person-gives-samuels-murder-trial-evidence/
Seriously ? So he was an innocent bystander or better yet a life saving hero ? Is this the best you can do ? GTFOOH
He was most likely the intended target. Perhaps if he had kept his ass in the US none of this would have happened ? Funny how the shooting started shortly after his return to Cayman!!
What kind of joke post is this ?
If you read the start clearly says he was not the target and it is proven he wasn’t and I would say yes he is in some sense a hero to the other innocent people that were there that walked away unharmed. If he was in the US they would have been 10 dead people that night who knows.
George, with a comment like that you should use anonymous instead of your name. Something seems off with you.
We need to pray for George, because only God can save him.
George, please take your pills.
Boy hush
I wanna go home🎶
3:37 His father is a well known Caymanian who has three other well known children (by his wife, Brandon is not) in the community. Is that enough for you?
The Leslie family are originally from Belize and obtained Caymanian status, years ago. The elders are good people and it is so sad to see that this one, of the younger generation, has made such bad choices. I hope that the others involved in this awful crime will also be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Justice must prevail.
He is not a biological Leslie. He is an Ebanks.
Bye.
Are you high ?
George, what are you on?
You think? He knows the names and particulars of all the players. He was involved in several events and apparently refuses to disclose what he knows. Fine. I respect that. However it’s a choice. You roll over, or you pay your dues, serve the time.
Not a severe sentence imo.
Defending gunman now George ? Wow
Should get life and throw away the key, no place for men with guns and knives in cayman. Remove them all and their stupid flashing lights on their cars
George; he is a known gunman. Everybody and their dog knows it. Lets just hope the sentence sticks this time around. He will be out in 8yrs if he behaves himself; is that excessive too?
How do we know Leslie is a Caymanian? Just asking ‘cos a whole bunch of people government treats as Caymanian are not. Has he been formally acknowledged?
Just stop talking “‘cos” you sound dumb.
Ah, unpopular speech not allowed? The poster raises an important point.
You sound dumb too. What is a formally acknowledged Caymanian?
I used to think our weakest link were corrupt politicians, greedy impatient landowners and homegrown criminals but no, our weakest link is actually people that refuse to believe that we have unsavory characters in our community.
Wtf is a caymanian even. All of our ancestors were expatriates. Not one single exception so what is a caymanian? How many generations before they can be “formally acknowledged”
Find something else to fuss about. Like an education.
I understand his family are from Belize. Depending on the circumstances of his birth there may be legally required processes for him to become, and remain, a Caymanian. Have they been satisfied? If not – he may well be NOT a Caymanian.
He is Caymanian.
He belongs to two Caymanians. Father is an Ebanks. Mother’s former married name was Leslie.