A MAN walked free from the Supreme Court yesterday after the prosecution, on the orders of the Attorney General, discontinued its murder case against him.
Yesterday's nolle prosequi presented in court does not mean a future charge against Anthony Charles Hall cannot be brought.
But the murder charge against him was discontinued as of yesterday, along with charges of armed robbery and housebreaking.
The "nolle pros", a court order that had to be signed by new Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, was brought by prosecutors because an accused due to stand trial with Hall, Ryan Omar Butler, could not be found.
The nolle prosequi itself did not apply to Butler, as prosecutors said his name was not on the document.
Both men were charged in connection with the December 2002 home invasion, hold-up murder of Jean Claude Louissaint.
Butler had failed to appear for a fixture hearing in April, compelling Justice Roy Jones to issue a warrant for his arrest
Anthony Hall had been on bail up to last month. However, his bail had been revoked for his failure to comply with weekly reporting conditions.
Yesterday morning, the murder trial was expected to start, but the prosecution was not prepared to proceed as Butler was still missing.
The case was put down until 2.30pm when the prosecution was expected to lodge the nolle prosequi which they presented yesterday afternoon.
Justice Jones told Hall that the charge against him was being discontinued and that he was free to go unless there was another matter detaining him.
Hall was represented by Murrio Ducille while an absent Butler had retained Dorsey McPhee.
In law, nolle prosequi describes a prosecutor's decision to voluntarily discontinue criminal charges either before trial or before a verdict is rendered.
Comments
notsogullible 12 years, 5 months ago
Interesting way to resolve the rampant crime issues and more specifically bring the murder rate down; LET THE MURDERERS GO FREE!! There has to be some method to such madness which ordinary intelligent minds cannot see but we'll have to wait to seei it, I guess
Lala001 12 years, 5 months ago
THANK THE "PLP" FOR THIS!!!! WATCH EVERYONE COMPLAIN NOW AFTER THE VOTED FOR THE...... YOU ARREST PEOPLE OF ALL AGES FOR A BLUNT LEAVE THEM IN JAIL FOR MONTHS.... AND YOU KILL SOMEBODY AND YOU ARE LET FREE????? THIS IS DISGRACEFUL !!!
concernedcitizen 12 years, 5 months ago
have no fear Mrs Grant - Bethel is coming back to staigthen out the courts ,,lmao
Sign in to comment
OpenID