Murder accused freed

A MURDER accused left the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court a free man after his case was discharged on Tuesday afternoon by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls because a witness, without whose evidence the State would not have been able to prove its case, refused to give evidence. Brian Wilson of McIntosh Street, Laventille, who was charged with the June 27 murder of 39-year-old Curt “Chachie Boy” Montrichard at Pump Trace, Trou Macaque Road, Laventille, was told by McNicolls, “You are released” after the magistrate ruled that “evidence led by the prosecution discloses no prima facie case made out for the accused.”

State witness Marcus Marshall told the court that the events of the day in question were fresh in his mind when he had given a statement to the police and signed it as being true, but he could not now give evidence in the matter because he was fearful for his life. He told State prosecutor Candia James he was aware that without his testimony the State would be unable to proceed further with the inquiry but he had no intention of giving evidence “today or any other time in the future.” Marshall had earlier been sentenced to nine months hard labour by Magistrate Avason Quinlan, when he had appeared before her charged with possession of arms and ammunition. The charges were laid by Sgt Isaac of the Port-of-Spain CID.