The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court jury was directed to acquit a man accused of being involved in a gunpoint robbery that turned fatal.

Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs made the order on Tuesday after a no-case submission was made by attorney Jiaram Mangra for 29-year-old Henley Claridge after the conclusion of the prosecution’s case.

Claridge faced two counts of armed robbery and a single charge of murder, alleged to have been committed on March 4, 2014.

Though Claridge was cleared of the offences, a November 2011 amendment to the Court of Appeal Act allows the Crown to challenge a judge’s decision to acquit on a no case submission.

It was claimed that Claridge robbed Tonika Laroda and Darius Adderley of two Samsung cellular phones together valued at $600. He is further accused of intentionally killing Adderley by means of unlawful harm.

Claridge, when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on July 4, 2014, pleaded not guilty to all three charges. He maintained that plea from the beginning on March 21.

On that date, Ms Laroda testified that she and Adderley were sitting in his 2003 Dodge Town and Country van when a masked man with a handgun robbed them.

Before fleeing into the direction of a graveyard, the suspect shot at the vehicle, hitting Adderley in the back. The woman was unharmed during the robbery. Adderley was taken to hospital by ambulance, but died of his injuries shortly after his arrival.

Claridge was arrested shortly after the incident and reportedly told police that he acted as a lookout while a friend with the street name “K-Dog” carried out the crime.

However, a check by police revealed that “K-Dog” was actually in prison at the time of the crime, the jury was told by Sgt 774 Deleveaux.

On Monday, the evidence of Renaldo Middleton was read into the record through an application made by the prosecution.

The judge allowed the request for the unavailable witness’ statement into the record as an amendment to the Evidence Act in 2012 gave judges the discretion to allow the statements of witnesses who are dead, cannot be found, or are too sick to testify into evidence.

However, it meant that Middleton’s evidence could not have been scrutinised in cross-examination.

Middleton told police that around 9pm that day, he had caught a ride to Quarry Mission Road in Chippingham to hang out with acquaintances of his, referred to as “Bounty” and “Andrea”. Middleton had purchased a Backwoods cigar and a Guinness, which he consumed during the gathering.

Middleton said 20 minutes later, he heard what sounded like a single gunshot nearby.

He asked “Bounty” if she had heard it and she said no. However “Andrea” told him she had heard the shot.

Middleton said a minute after the shot went off, he saw Henley coming in their direction. He appeared shaken, frightened and was breathing heavily.

The man told police that Claridge, who wore a long sleeve black or navy sweater and jeans, told them he had tried to rob a man but ended up shooting him when he tried to take his gun.

Claridge then asked for limejuice to wash off his hands before going upstairs.

Middleton said he followed and heard the alarm from Henley’s electronic monitoring device go off.

Middleton said not long afterwards, police arrived and arrested Claridge, who had already changed his clothing.

However, he told police he did not see Claridge with any gun.

Claridge was expected to indicate to Senior Justice Isaacs on Tuesday whether he would make a no-case submission or proceed to giving a defence to the allegations.

If he elected the latter option, he had the option to remain silent at his trial or elect to give testimony under oath concerning the incident.

However, his lawyer asked for the jury to be excused so that legal arguments could be made on the no-case submission which led to the judge directing Claridge’s acquittal.

Desiree Ferguson and Cassie Bethel prosecuted for the Crown.