St Catherine man freed of murder charges

A St Catherine man who as accused of stabbing another to death in an altercation 11 years ago, was freed of charges on Monday after it was revealed the prosecution's main witness did not actually see the incident.

The accused, 31-year-old Damon Henry, was brought before the St Catherine Circuit Court on charges relating to the murder of Travis Callahar. 

It was first reported that the two men got into a dispute in 2013. The dispute got physical during which Callahar was allegedly stabbed to death by Henry. 

The accused was subsequently arrested and charged. He made several visits to court over the 11-year period, during which he maintained his innocence.

His luck turned around for the better after the 'eyewitness' gave conflicting accounts.

She told the police that saw the incident for herself. However, under cross examination, she admitted to have been told by someone else of what occurred.

Attorneys-at-law Dr Kes Miller and Dianna Mitchell told the court that the witness cannot be trusted, to which Justice Yvonne Brown agreed with.

Brown said that no evidence was presented by the main witness to make a nexus between the offence and therefore it could not proven.

"The witness is manifestly unreliable. Therefore I cannot put the case to the jury for deliberation," she said.

The jury was then instructed to return a formal not guilty verdict.

- Rasbert Turner 

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