MURDER accused Haslyn Hodge, who some days ago was freed of rape because the virtual complainant declined to testify against him, was found not guilty of murder because of insufficient evidence against him for that offence, yesterday, in the Demerara Assizes.

The accused was charged with having murdered Tameshsa Riddle, the mother of his children, on April 4, 2008.
Justice Navindra Singh, presiding in the trial, having heard submissions in the absence of the jury, directed the return of a formal verdict of not guilty in favour of the accused.
The judge did not only agree with the submissions of Defence Counsel Peter Hugh and Onassis Granville, but said he was appalled that a magistrate could commit a prisoner to stand trial for murder on that type of evidence.
In accepting submissions, the judge noted that, according to the circumstances of the case, as disclosed by the witnesses, two men, one of whom was the accused, had been having an affair with the deceased, and there was dissatisfaction among them; yet the police sought to charge one without contacting the other, who was also a policeman. According to the judge, it was a fitting case which cried out for an identification parade, yet none was held.
According to defence counsel, the accused, who as a result of the alleged murder of Tamesha Riddle on April 4, 2008 has been incarcerated for 4 years, might have still been in custody without trial had not a constitutional motion been filed on his behalf, denouncing his continued detention without trial.
In discharging the accused, the judge told him that he was free to go.
State Prosecutors in the matter were Mrs. Konyo Thompson and Miss Dhanika Singh.