A JURY on Friday found Kester Lewis not guilty of a charge of murder in relation to the death of David Barclay, who succumbed after being dragged by a car along D’Urban Street, Georgetown.

Following some hours of deliberation, the 12-member jury panel returned with its unanimous verdict, finding Lewis not guilty of the murder charge levelled against him by the state, for the December 27, 2020 killing of 29-year-old Barclay of Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The jurors also acquitted him of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Consequently, trial judge Sandil Kissoon informed Lewis that he was discharged and was free to go.

Prosecutors had presented their case against Lewis, 32, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), alleging that he dragged Barclay, a father of two, into several parked vehicles along the Georgetown roadway.

According to police reports, the incident began when Barclay approached Lewis to repair a tyre on his vehicle. An argument ensued over a shortfall of $700 in payment.

In the heat of the dispute, Lewis allegedly took out a knife and slashed one of Barclay’s tyres.

The situation escalated when Lewis attempted to flee by jumping into a vehicle and driving away. Barclay, in an effort to apprehend Lewis, jumped onto the front driver-side door of the moving vehicle. The police stated that Lewis then lost control of the car, resulting in it crashing into several parked vehicles. Barclay fell onto the roadway during the collision and was quickly transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem later revealed that Barclay died from multiple injuries sustained during the incident.