Teen freed of murder

Walter Baksh, of Marabella, was given his freedom by Justice Larry Lalla, presiding in the Third Criminal Court.

The judge refused to admit into evidence an alleged confession statement which police claimed Baksh gave.

Baksh was 17 when he was charged with the murder of taxi driver, Martin Williams, 47. He was accused of robbing and stabbing the taxi driver to death, along with two men, between February 3 and 6, 2004.

Baksh was charged 13 months after the killing, but the two other men are yet to be arrested. Last week Tuesday, Lalla impanelled a jury to hear the case, but Baksh’s attorney, Rangee Dolsingh SC, raised certain legal objections. The objection concerned the written statement Baksh was said to have given the police. Lalla held a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the statement into evidence. Yesterday, the judge ruled the statement was taken in a manner which could not be admitted.

“I refuse to allow these statements into the evidence,” Lalla said.

Lalla explained to the jury that the statement was the only evidence against Baksh. “The State has indicated that they will not be pursuing the matter and all is left to do is to discharge the matter,” the judge said.

Smiling outside the courthouse he hugged and kissed his crying grandmother, Barbara Archibald.

“I feel good to be free. I was locked up in jail for 16 months,” the freed man said. Saying he intends to return to school, Baksh advised prisoners in similar predicament, to “pray, keep strong and trust in God.”

Baksh’s father Fyzool said he fasted and prayed for six months for his son to be freed.