Seven acquitted in 2015 murder of schoolteacher

Following almost eight weeks of trial, four days of summation and nine hours of deliberation by the jury, seven St Michael men have been freed of the charge of murdering a school teacher.

Ayo Bascombe, of Headleys Land, Bank Hall; Rasheed Jabar Gittens of Belleview Gap, Station Hill; Adrian Antonio Watts, of Windsor Road, Bank Hall; Brandon Damon Joseph, of Beckwith Street, The City; Kemal Mario Straker, of Clapham Park; Rio Richian Jelani Benn of Upper Dukes Alley, Vine Street, The City; and Nicholas Ricardo Clarke, of Godding Road, Station Hill had been accused of the fatal shooting of 30-year-old schoolteacher Dwight Holder on August 6, 2015.

After Justice Carlisle Greaves completed his four-day summation in the No. 3 Supreme Court, the seven female, five male jury retired at 12.32 p.m. to deliberate. When they were recalled at 5:45 p.m., they indicated that they had not reached a decision on any of the accused. They again retired and returned not guilty pleas for Bascombe, Gittens and Joseph when summoned at 7:45 p.m. Returning at 9:15 p.m., the jury acquitted the four remaining men.

Justice Greaves informed the men that they were free to go and thanked the jury for their service.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY, King’s Counsel Michael Lashley, who represented Watts, stated that “justice had been served”, while lamenting the time that it had taken for the case to be brought to trial and the effect it had on the accused.

Calling the police investigations into the matter “sloppy” and “tardy”, he insisted, “We must have speedier trials because we have cases when the evidence is weak before the court quickly so that justice can be served.”

Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, who appeared for Rasheed Gittens, said, “It’s been a long and challenging journey, and I am glad it’s over.”

Defence attorney Verla De Peiza represented Bascombe, attorney Kristin Vanderpool appeared for Benn, defence counsel Simon Clarke and Dr Lenda Blackman represented Joseph, attorneys Marlon Gordon and Jeremy Bowen represented Clarke, and attorney Ajamu Boardi represented Straker.

Principal State Counsel Neville Watson and Senior State Counsel Romario Straker prosecuted the case.