Gang members are helping to convict themselves by posing with weapons and bragging about their exploits on cell phones and the web.
A combination of egos and modern technology is proving a valuable tool in the fight against gang crime, say experts.

Prosecutors are increasingly using Facebook photos, cell phone videos and even jewellery to draw links between defendants and gangs in shooting cases.

Alvone Maybury, 24, found guilty yesterday of a brazen shooting on a city street, helped seal his own fate thanks to videos on his BlackBerry showing him posing with a gun and threatening “Parkside n****s”.

His lawyer, Llewellyn Peniston, yesterday criticized the decision to allow the videos to be shown in court.

He said: “I don’t believe circumstantial evidence showing loose gang ties should go before the jury. It’s like saying a medallion or something like that is hard evidence of gang links.

“I wear a cross around my neck but it does not mean that I am Christian.”

But painting suspects in gun cases as gang members is increasingly common in Bermuda — and if prosecutors can show it is relevant to the case it is admissible in court.

Last month, a BermyNet picture of Anthony Swan making hand gestures was used to associate him with the 42 gang and helped convict him of a shooting attack on Raymond ‘Yankee’ Rawlins.