FORMER security guard, Kelvin Chisholm who has a physical disability, was on Thursday freed of the 2014 murder of handyman Nigel Lawson on Quamina Street after the 12-member jury found him not guilty of murder and the lesser count of manslaughter.

The jurors took about two hours before they arrived at the unanimous verdict after which the trial judge, Navindra Singh told the accused that he was free to go.

Chisholm was advised by Justice Singh who cautioned him, since he lost four years of his life awaiting trial in jail for the alleged murder. Chisholm, in response after he was un-cuffed, thanked the judge and the members of the jury for their not guilty verdict.
The accused was represented by defence attorneys Compton Richardson and Hewley Griffith, while the state’s case was presented by Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander.

The accused Kelvin Chisholm pleaded not guilty to the offence for which he stood indicted which stated that on May 1, 2014, he allegedly murdered Nigel Lawson during a confrontation.
The state called 11 witnesses to testify in the trail which lasted a few days.

In her opening address, state prosecutor Tiffini Lyken told the court that on the evening in question about 08:30hrs, the motionless body of Nigel Lawson was found on Quamina Street with a wound to the body.

She related that he was taken to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Lyken added that a post mortem on May 7, 2014 revealed that Lawson died as a result of perforation of the heart and lungs due to stab wounds.

She added that the police conducted an investigation and the accused, Kelvin Chisholm was arrested and charged for the offence.