Magistrate frees Murder accused

AN ECSTATIC murder accused walked out of the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court a free man shortly after the evidence of two State witnesses was deemed unreliable by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls. McNicolls ruled that the accused, David “Devil” Charles, had no case to answer because the evidence given by the State’s two main witnesses was “in stark contrast” to the statements they had allegedly given to the police. Charles, of 19 Prizgar Lands in Laventille, had been charged with the murder of Earl Lewis of  Rock City, Upper Erica Street, Laventille. Lewis was fatally shot near his home on January 28.  The charge was laid by Acting Insp John Martinez of the Port-of-Spain CID.  

While taking the evidence-in-chief of Kevon “Man Rat” Clement and Orlando Celestine, both of Upper Erica Street in Laventille, State attorney Shoba Jumanar was forced to make applications for leave to have them deemed hostile. When it was granted by McNicolls, she proceeded to cross-examine them on the statements they (the witnesses) claimed the police had forced them to sign. Martinez was then called on to give evidence, after which the State closed its case. “No jury, properly directed could convict the accused,” the magistrate said, and informed Charles that he was free to go. The 19-year-old man clasped his hands and looked upwards before he gleefully turned to look at his relatives seated in the courtroom. He then shook hands with two inmates who were waiting in the holding cell, before he made his way out of the courtroom.