In a landmark verdict from Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, prominent radio personality Christopher ‘Too Cool Chris’ Jones has been fully exonerated of wounding charges stemming from a July 4, 2024 shooting incident. Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie delivered the not-guilty ruling on Wednesday after meticulously examining evidence presented over a nine-month trial period.
The case centered on Jones’ claim of self-defense against complainant Kevin Patterson of Largo Height. Magistrate McKenzie determined the prosecution failed to disprove Jones’ justification argument, noting ‘many inconsistencies’ in the state’s case. The judicial officer characterized Patterson’s testimony as ‘incredulous’ and found his credibility ‘so shot’ that the court could not accept his version of events.
Critical to the ruling was the absence of corroborating evidence. Despite occurring during carnival activities at Heritage Square, no CCTV footage emerged from the hurricane-affected area, and investigators obtained no witness statements from the initial confrontation location. The court noted this evidentiary gap significantly hampered the prosecution’s ability to establish their case.
Magistrate McKenzie applied rigorous legal standards to the self-defense claim, evaluating whether Jones’ actions were necessary and reasonable given his honest belief of imminent danger. The court considered testimony indicating Patterson had thrown bottles at Jones至少四次 while repeatedly uttering death threats, including the statement ‘I’m going to kill you tonight’ on multiple occasions.
Key witnesses including motorist Julian Richards and off-duty Police Constable Jahshem Lynch corroborated aspects of Jones’ account, describing the well-lit area where the shooting occurred as Jones attempted to report to police. Medical evidence showed all injuries sustained by Patterson shared identical 0.5cm circumference, making entry/exit wound determination impossible.
The magistrate ultimately found Jones’ use of force proportionate given the sustained threats and Patterson’s continued advance after initial shots. Jones was represented by attorney Grant Connell, while Station Sergeant Shamrack Pierre prosecuted the case. Patterson, previously acquitted of wounding Jones in a separate proceeding, exited the court wearing a facemask without commenting to press.