Stupid Does As Stupid Is!

Accused defied the court

Under house arrest during alleged slaying

By JOE WARMINGTON

Such a shock that this convicted gangster now charged with a double murder allegedly did not obey an order from the judicial bench to stay home and never again possess a gun!

Yes, this accused killer, a member of the Crips, who was "well known to police," was not only under house arrest when he allegedly committed two wild-west gunfight slayings in Brampton this summer, he was also subject to a lifetime firearms prohibition.

Peel Police allege not only did 21-year-old Justin Bellinger of Toronto fail to obey his laughable bail conditions for firearm and drug charges but he and alleged accomplice Mustafa Omar, 23, committed these murders at a farmhouse at 8678 Chinguacousy Rd. in Brampton.

You don't need to go to the American inner city to find gang warfare and you don't need to rent the American Gangster DVD, starring Denzel Washington. This was Canadian Gangster and at 5:17 a.m. June 6, you had the same blood, bullets and viciousness right here in the GTA. It was one awful scene. It was not a gangland movie. It was deadly real.

Ask the families of Toronto men Terrence Elliott "T-Bone" Hughes, 40, and Garth Nicholas Palmer, 29, gunned down in this after-hours hangout. What was it all about? Drugs, a gang turf fight, money?

None of the above.

"It was unrelated to gang activity," Peel homicide Insp. Norm English says. "It was stupid and trivial stuff that ended up in a heated and deadly confrontation."

And for that two men are dead? Not exactly glamorous. It's actually ugly, pathetic and intolerable.

In addition to this trial there should be a review of how somebody with a firearms ban can be afforded bail while before the courts on more firearms charges. I will let you know if this review ever happens, but I have never seen one so far in the dozens of similar cases.

In fact we have tougher rules on plastic bag usage. In cases like this it begs the question: Why are judges and justices of the peace not graded?

Crime reporter Chris Doucette recalls being out at the scene, saying it was something out of Pulp Fiction.

There was a Jamaican flag outside the house, one body outside and another one inside.

Peel forensics officers were everywhere.

There were so many shots fired that in addition to the two men killed there were six others wounded -- including Bellinger, who was struck in the face.

But like in a lot of shootouts, survivors weren't talking afterward.

It did not deter Peel Police, who have a motto that if you commit a major crime in Peel, you will be caught. This year there have been 15 homicides in Peel and all 15 have been solved from an investigative view. You can't get much better than 100%.

However, English said this was no slam-dunk. His team went to work with very little to go on. No names, no assistance, no leads. English, Det.-Sgt. J.P. Maurice, Det. Chris Giles and Det. Sean Gormley and a group of other officers refused to be discouraged.

"We are so proud of them," English said. "They did some terrific detective work."

One example is when they came across a cellphone. Although the images on it were grainy, they did show people in that house, just before the shooting. It was investigative gold.

"I want to thank the Toronto Sun for running those," English said. "They were of some assistance getting some help from the public."

It led to these arrests. It led, English says, to a safer community.

"We allege that both of these men in custody are very dangerous people and are pleased they are off the street."

There was Bellinger yesterday before the Brampton courts, charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

Omar, already previously charged with one of the homicides, was also in court having the second murder charge added to his name. Future dates will be set for trial.

Interesting, though, seeing so-called tough-guy Bellinger hit the floor of the backseat of a police car like a coward as soon as he saw a Sun photographer as he entered Brampton court yesterday. He successfully managed to hide his face.

But there's no need to worry about being recognized because unlike last time, he won't be roaming around among the public anytime soon. This time there was no bail provided by the court.