'THEY'RE NO MURDERERS': KIN

Families Furious That Those Facing Drug Raps Must Appear Beside Those
Accused In Jane Creba Killing

Samiyah Dawson holds up the Sun while pal Wonzah Campbell, girlfriend
of accused Lionel Williams, talks to the press. Williams, who was
pictured on the front of yesterday's Sun, is only charged with failure
to comply with recognizance. (Greg Henkenhaf, Sun)

In a packed courtroom filled with distraught relatives and friends,
nine males accused in the shocking Boxing Day shootout that left Jane
Creba dead and six others wounded appeared before a judge for the
first time yesterday.

All 25 suspects swept up by police in a pre-dawn raids Tuesday
appeared in groups at Old City Hall court.

All but three people who are facing drug offences were remanded until
next week.

Some relatives were upset that their kin, busted for unrelated drug
offences, were in court alongside the alleged killers, who are accused
in the crime that stunned the city.

"You have to clear their names," said Samiyah Dawson, cousin of one of
those accused of drug offences.

"They're no murderers."

Nickon Griffiths, 25, said the men featured in media reports being
arrested at 600 Oakwood Ave. are being unfairly labelled because they
were arrested in the same investigation.

His pals, Anthony Moodie, 27, Abel Tsegay, 19, and Lynroy Brown, 24,
were charged with drug offences and Lionel Williams, 24, is charged
with failure to comply with recognizance.

"They had nothing to do with the shooting," Griffiths
said.

"People think they're murderers and they're not," said Williams'
girlfriend, Wonzah Campbell.

"It hurts their families to see them all put together, like they're
all killers. It's embarrassing and it could ruin their lives."

Det. Gary Grinton from the Toronto Police homicide squad said it's
natural for relatives of the accused to be upset.

"Family members, by definition, love their family members, so I think
it's fairly reasonable that they would be standing up for members of
their family," he said outside court.

"They were all arrested at the same time as a result of our
investigation. Whether they were lumped in is not a term I would use.
We commenced a lengthy investigation that uncovered evidence of a
number of criminal offences."

Some relatives even cried racism outside court, claiming the probe
wouldn't have been so intense had the victim been black.

"The people in the poor black communities, when they are innocent too,
don't get all this," said an aunt of Tyshaun Barnett, 19, accused of
second-degree murder. She believes her nephew is innocent, saying,
"They got the wrong guy."

Barnett had about 20 supporters in court. Once he was remanded until
next Wednesday, half the courtroom emptied.

Barnett, Louis Woodcock, 19, and a 17-year-old are charged with
second-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder.

Andrew Smith, 20, Vincent Davis, 25, Shaun Thompson, 21, Andre
Thompson, 20, and two 17-year-olds are facing manslaughter charges.
One of the teens outstanding Tuesday morning turned himself into
police with a lawyer that night.

Smith is to return to court tomorrow. His lawyer David Midanik said
his client, a student, is anxious to write an exam Monday and will be
seeking an early release.

Fifteen others, including Milan Mijatovic, 21, who was shot on Young
St. the night Creba died, are facing various charges including
conspiracy to traffic cocaine and firearms.

A warrant has been issued for another man who police say is hiding in
the U.K. His name has not been released and he is not included on the
list of 25 already identified.

Brown, Tsegay, and Carol Tran, 20, were freed on bail.