JUSTICE Franklyn Holder, the presiding judge in the Longden Street murder trial, yesterday directed the mixed jury to return a verdict of not guilty in favour of accused, Tony Collymore.

Justice Holder, who was expected to sum up yesterday afternoon, changed his mind after reviewing the evidence, and concluded that one of the elements of murder had not been proved by the prosecution.
He therefore had no alternative than to direct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty in relation to the capital offence.
That being done, the accused, Tony Collymore, a city vendor, was discharged .
After the lawyers, the defence counsel and the prosecutrix had completed their closing addresses to the jury on Monday morning, the judge indicated that he would sum up the evidence on Tuesday afternoon.
But yesterday afternoon, he addressed the jury and directed them to return a not guilty verdict. The judge made the decision after reviewing the evidence.
The accused had been charged with having, on August 1, 2012, reportedly murdered plantain chips vendor, Jermain Simon, following a clash between them that led to the deceased attacking the accused with a knife, and the accused defending himself with an ice pick.
The accused was admitted to hospital with a wound in the chest, while Jermain died from his injuries.
Defence counsel Gomes had asked for an acquittal of his client, while the prosecutrix had asked for a verdict in accordance with the evidence and the oath the jury had taken..
Mr. Gomes had asked the jury to find that the evidence given by the star witness for the prosecution, the brother of the deceased, Sherwin Simon — who said he saw the killing and then at another time said he did not see — had not been straightworward with the Court.

(By George Barclay)