Police officer Everton Gittens free of murder charge

Police Officer Everton Randolph Gittens was today cleared of three criminal charges including murder.

Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant handed down the decision moments ago.

Gittens, now in his 50s, of Lot 1 Dash Gap, Bank Hall, St Michael, was charged with the March 15, 2015 murder of Selwyn Blues Knight.

He was also accused of recklessly engaging in conduct which placed Junior Knight, son of the deceased, in danger of death or serious bodily harm and unlawfully wounding him with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to cause him some serious bodily harm.

Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant said the Court found that based on the evidence the charges “cannot be sustained and the holding of a prima facie case has not been made out by the prosecution.”

She added: “The accused . . . is discharged from this court…You are free to go”.

Knight and his son were allegedly shot by Gittens at Dash Gap, while they were apprehending a man who had just broken into their home and stolen two tablets.