Man accused of attempted robbery and shooting of taxi operator freed after almost three years behind bars

A man accused of shooting a taxi driver after trying to rob him of his vehicle has been freed of gun and robbery charges after spending almost three years behind bars.

Twenty-five-year-old Royon Baker of Smith Lane, Kingston, was last Monday freed of gun and robbery-related charges in the Gun Court.

Baker was charged and indicted with using a firearm to commit a felony, assault with intent to rob, and wounding with intent, stemming from a December 14, 2022, incident in which he was accused of attempting to rob a taxi operator at gunpoint in downtown Kingston.

According to the allegations, Baker was reportedly among a group of men who held up the cab driver, attempted to steal his vehicle, and later shot him during the struggle.

However, at the close of the prosecution’s case, attorney-at-Law Javed Grant successfully argued in a no-case submission that the Crown had failed to establish that Baker had knowledge of a firearm or participated in the attempted robbery.

Grant contended that while Baker was present on the scene, there was no evidence linking him to the weapon, the shooting, or any joint enterprise to rob the complainant.

Justice Tara Carr upheld the submissions, ruling that the prosecution had not proven any of the offences on the indictment.

The judge noted that any inference of knowledge or participation by Baker would “be a stretch,” and ordered that he be released.

Police report initially alleged that around 8:15 on the night of the incident, the complainant was operating his taxi in downtown Kingston when Baker, said to be a passenger, pulled a firearm and demanded the vehicle.

The vehicle later crashed into a utility pole, after which the taxi operator was shot, and the assailant escaped.

Baker was arrested during a police operation at his home and later charged.

- Tanesha Mundle

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