Accused murderers Orel Leslie, Tyrone Meighan and Brandon Baptist have been acquitted for a second time of the shooting death of James Noralez.
In a trial without jury, Justice Collin Williams found that the DPP's Office did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that on November 23, 2012, these 3 men killed Noralez.
In October 2015, retired Justice Troadio Gonzalez found them not guilty after presiding over their very first trial. DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal appealed and the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial.
The CCJ affirmed the position that they needed to stand trial a second time.
That retrial started last month, and Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith had difficulty getting the main prosecution witness to show up and testify. That key witness was the cornerstone of her case against all 3 defendants. When he finally did show up, he provided a narrative which implied motive, and he placed them in Noralez's company less than an hour before he was shot dead. He even told the court that he saw 2 out of the 3 accused with weapons he believed was used to gun down Noralez.
Justice Collin Williams, who had reserved judgment in the case, returned today, and read out his verdict, which took him 2 hours and 15 minutes. He pointed out the many inconsistencies, and holes in the main witness's version of events, which he ultimately rejected as unreliable. One element that the judge focused in on is that this main witness was also suspected of being part of the murder of James Noralez, and that it was in his interest to point the finger at someone else. He also focused on other police witnesses in the case, and the judge said that their testimony's had many conflicts, which also made them unreliable. Coupled with the fact that each of the accused men had an alibi, the judge concluded at the end that the prosecution failed to adequately prove their case against Leslie, Meighan, and Baptist.
He acquitted them for a second time, much to their delight, and they exited court a lot happier than they went in. Their attorneys, who are usually very friendly with the press, declined to grant any interviews. But 7News did manage to get a short comment with Tyrone Meighan, when he exited the court a free man. Here's what he had to say:
Reporter
"You've been acquitted once again. Explain to us what's the first thing that comes to mind."
Tyrone Meighan, Acquited of Murder
"`The first thing comes to mind is that God is good. You can't never turn your back on God. 6 years of this. Experience is very good - you ae fighting for your life on the line. It's a job for them, but it's our life to us. Being there in the back seat, but I keep my confidence in my lawyers. My lawyers are always there. I recommend anybody to get this lawyer because they go the full 9 yards, they don't stop. They do their submissions and their cases. Take care."
So, to recap, Meighan and Leslie are completely free. Meighan left court immediately after the verdict was handed down, and court reports say Leslie was released shortly after that. Baptist goes back on remand while he awaits trial for another murder case.
The attorneys believe that the DPP may choose to appeal this second acquittal at the Court of Appeal.
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