A MAN, who was on trial for the 2016 murder of cane harvester, Deokumar Basdeo, was, on Monday, acquitted by High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow.

Deoram Persaud of La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, was charged for killing Basdeo between January 1 and January 2, 2016 at Cane Grove, ECD.

The trial commenced on Monday before a mixed 12-member jury with the testimonies of five witnesses after which State Prosecutor Shawnette Austin closed her case.

Persaud’s attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, made a no-case submission, calling for the charge to be dismissed, since the prosecution failed to make a case against her client.

Justice Barlow ruled in favour of the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. According to reports, on January 1, 2016, Basdeo was attacked and beaten by a group of men. They were all armed with pieces of wood. Basdeo was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and died on January 2, 2016, while receiving treatment.