Three set free of murder charge

Former Jamaica Defence Force soldier Kareem Campbell, business operator Nadine Moore, and cashier Damion Smith were last Thursday freed of murder charges in the Home Circuit Court, arising from the 2009 killing of Oshane Burke.

The three were freed after 11 years, when their lawyers declared that the evidence was insufficient to be left up to a jury to decide, to which trial judge Justice Shelly Williams was in agreement.

The case, dubbed 'The Hennessy Trial', lasted for one week, having started on January 30.

It was alleged that on September 15, 2009, the accused conspired to kill Burke, who, while under the employ of Moore, had stolen cash and a quantity of Hennessy bottles.

Made threats

The prosecution also argued that Moore made threats to the deceased, to the effect that his body would be found if he didn't return the items and money he stole.

In addition, Burke's body was found with multiple stab wounds along the Port Royal road when a patrol team spotted a random man behaving in a suspicious manner near to the body of the deceased.

The man reportedly told the police that he was not involved in the killing, and pointed the finger at the accused. Subsequently, they were arrested and charged.

However, the defence put forward that prosecutor's witnesses gave contradictory testimonies.

The defence also noted that the main witness described the crime scene as "pitch black", and asserted that he therefore could not be 100 per cent certain of what he had seen.