The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court jury was directed by a judge yesterday to acquit a man of murder and attempted murder.

The trial of 24-year-old Richard Brown was initially scheduled to be heard on May 7, 2018, but an opening in the court’s calendar for May 8, 2017 became available last week resulting in Brown receiving an earlier date for trial.

Although the jury was selected on Monday, the start of evidence was adjourned to yesterday May 11.

Brown is charged with the murder of Devano Decosta and attempted murder of Shavano Rahming.

After 10pm on May 18, 2016, Decosta and Rahming were standing in front of a home on Burial Ground Corner when two men with a handgun and shotgun approached and fired several shots at them before fleeing on foot. Decosta was pronounced dead at the scene and Rahming was taken to hospital for treatment.

However, when yesterday’s matter commenced, the Crown offered no evidence against the accused.

The virtual complainant of the attempted murder charge did not wish to proceed with the case, The Tribune understands.

Brown had denied the allegations against him and had retained attorney Sonia Timothy to represent him while Eucal Bonaby and Cephia Pinder-Moss represented the Crown.