EWERT Calistro and Adolph Joseph have been acquitted of the murder of 24-year-old Roy Ross.

The jury’s decision of not guilty cleared the duo of both murder and manslaughter charges. Calistro and Joseph were on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Demerara High Court.

The charge arose from the violent killing of Ross, whose body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in his Swan Village home on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway in April 2021.

The state’s case against Calistro heavily relied on a caution statement allegedly given by him along with testimony from purported eye-witnesses. Similarly, the evidence against Joseph included a video interview and statements from alleged eye-witnesses.

Representing Calistro was Attorney-at-Law Kiswana Jefford, while Joseph was defended by Attorney-at-Law, Ronald Daniels. The prosecution team comprised State Counsel Abiola Lowe and State Counsel Yonika Rowland. Throughout the trial, the defence attorneys argued the insufficiency and unreliability of the evidence presented by the prosecutors, casting doubt on the prosecution’s case.

After careful deliberation, the mixed 12-member jury found both Calistro and Joseph not guilty of murder and the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Justice Barlow subsequently discharged the accused, declaring them free to go.

The murder of Ross occurred between 23:00 hours on Easter Sunday and 06:00 hours on Easter Monday in 2021. He was found dead in his home, which showed no signs of robbery.

His body bore several stab wounds to the chest and shoulder.