LAST  night, a Demerara  Assize jury found  Mahaicony robbery/murder accused Keith Doris not guilty of the murder of businessman Rambarran Singh. The accused, who, as a consequence, was discharged  of  murder  by Justice Dawn Gregory,  was not allowed to go  free since he was taken back to prison to face another charge.
The accused,  represented  by  Attorney-at-Law Mr. George Thomas,  had pleaded not guilty to the charge which had accused him  of participating in a robbery at Good Faith, Mahaicony on the night of 24th November 2006,  when the 69 year old  shop owner, Rambarran Singh, was killed.
The case had begun with a voir dire (a trial within a trial) because the alleged confession  by the accused was the only incriminating evidence against him.    And he had denied making the confession, alleging that  it was obtained by violence.
But at the conclusion of the voir dire,  Justice Dawn Gregory ruled  that the statement  was obtained freely and voluntarily and  directed that  it be tendered in evidence.
At the original trial, the accused maintained that he was not guilty and the jury appeared to have accepted his story by returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty.