THE charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm against Stephon Fordyce were discharged after the virtual complainant, Richard Edwards, opted not to testify against him.

But even as the mixed jury returned a formal verdict of not guilty after receiving direction from Justice Jo Ann Barlow, the judge advised Fordyce, 19, to now walk the straight and narrow path.

“You are a little boy still… something like this should never have happened. I speak to you as a person who has a son, who will never stand where you are [in the dock] … you are discharged.”

Edwards in his evidence, said he knew the accused for about two years prior to the incident and that his presence in court signals his intention to “quash the matter and let it finish”.

Fordyce and his grandmother have discussed a monetary compensation.

“I was not forced; I decided to end the story,” Edwards stated while Justice Barlow warned that with his decision, he cannot go to the police and make a report concerning this matter, nor can the court adjudicate in any monetary settlement.

State Prosecutrix Tuanna Hardy said that on April 17, 2017, at Murphy Dam, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, Fordyce allegedly inflicted several life-threatening stab wounds on Edwards following an argument over the complainant’s sexual orientation.

Fordyce was represented by Legal Aid Attorney, Sasha Roberts.