Accused in schoolboy murder freed on no-case submission

–but DPP appeals acquittal

ON a defence no-case submission, Justice Diana Insanally yesterday acquitted 17-year-old Samuel Cornelius for the murder of 17-year-old Anfernee Bowman, committed on February 27, 2012;

but the Director of Public Prosecutions has given notice of appeal against this decision.

Bowman, of Robb Street, Georgetown was stabbed to death following a fight between himself and Cornelius, of Trench Road, Albuoystown, which occurred after lessons had been completed at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The two young men had attended the same secondary school, and used to take lessons at a place in Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, when the relationship between a girl and the now deceased Bowman became sour after she had become friendly with the accused. That led to a quarrel and a fight between the two young men.

The case for the prosecution, as conducted by Miss Natasha Backer, was that the accused had intended to kill the defendant, or to cause him grievous bodily harm; but defence counsel Mr. Mark Waldron had submitted that his client had been attacked and had retaliated in self-defence.

Yesterday, after Madam Justice Diana Insanally had accepted the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in favour of the accused, Prosecutrix Miss Natasha Backer, on behalf of the DPP, gave Notice of Appeal in accordance with the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Act, 2010, which provides for appeal in such a situation.

Defence counsel Mr. Mark Waldron applied for bail for his client Cornelius, and was granted same in the sum of $300,000, the judge noting that Cornelius was entitled to bail. Cornelius was also ordered to lodge his passport with the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and was further requested to report regularly to personnel at the Ruimveldt Police Station.

(By George Barclay)

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