Accused in Movie Towne killing freed

THE MAN accused of killing a woman at Movie Towne in June was yesterday freed of the murder. Instead, Brent Miller, has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony in the preliminary inquiry against Jamaat Al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr on a charge of conspiracy to murder two expelled members of the Muslimeen. Bakr’s case is listed for September 29. All charges laid against  Miller were dismissed by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls yesterday, after a letter of discontinuance was submitted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson. “You are a very lucky man Mr Miller,” Mc Nicolls remarked. “The DPP has submitted a letter of discontinuance in the case, therefore all charges laid against you have been dismissed.”

When contacted, Miller’s attorney Wayne Sturge said he did not know of the DPP’s intention to discontinue the case. He also said his client was now in protective custody. Miller, 25, of St Ann’s, was earlier charged with the June 4, 2003 murder of Jilla Bowen which took place at the Movie Towne Complex, Invaders Bay, Port-of-Spain. Bowen, the 32-year-old mother of a six-year-old girl, was shot in her head while in the company of two men who were also shot in the legs and lower torso. They were reportedly sitting on a bench at the time of the incident. He was also charged with eight other offences: attempting to murder Salim Rasheed, attempting to murder Adil Ghani, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life  and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life. These charges were laid indictably by Sgt Nandram Moonilal of the St James CID. A relative of Miller was seen jumping with joy outside the court  after hearing of the news from a police officer.