A DEMERARA Assizes jury yesterday found Omesh Chaitram, also called ‘Black Boy’, not guilty of the murder of handyman Wendell Fresco, called ‘Country’ after deliberating for two and a half hours. 

Justice Navindra Singh had summed up the evidence in two hours in the trial of Chaitram who was accused of murdering Fresco on July 10, 2012.
And the shock came at 1:40 pm when the foreman of the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty in favour of the accused.
Some spectators in the courtroom who were expecting either a hung jury or a conviction grimaced as the foreman mistakenly said that the verdict was not unanimous and then apologised for the error by returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty
Justice Navindra Singh told the freed accused: “The jury has found you not guilty for the offence. I am going to discharge you. I ask you that when you go out for the second chance of your life, do something good. Fix yourself. You are free to go.”
Following the death of ‘Country’, the police had said that ‘Black Boy’ had confessed to the crime. But later he denied making the confession and accused the police of holding his hand and guiding it to formulate a signature which was not his.
The prosecution was conducted by Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Mursalin. Defence Counsel, Mr. Raymond Ali had urged the jury to disregard the confession statement and to return a verdict of not guilty.

(By George Barclay)