He was charged with killing his own uncle - but after more than 5 years on remand, forty-one year old Oliver Peters is a free man tonight. The Judge said he killed his uncle 47 year old Thomas Ferguson Sr, in self-defence.
It happened back in late 2013 when Peters stabbed his uncle with a chicken knife. Multiple witnesses said they saw Peters do it - and police found him with the knife - so that was not in dispute.
But, Peters said he did it in self defense. In a statement from the dock, he said that when he walked into the family yard on Arlington Drive, his uncle Thomas was armed with a machete. The two had a history so Peters believed that his uncle was going to chop him, so he stabbed first.
In giving his verdict, Justice Williams looked favorably at that defence. He questioned what Ferguson was doing outside at that time of the night when his household was asleep. He said that given the totality of the circumstances he was of the view that Peters honestly believed that he was acting in self defense when he stabbed Ferguson. Justice Williams also noted it wasn't a deep stab wound, and that by the time Ferguson died, the wound had already healed.
Peters was represented at the verdict by attorney Oscar Selgado who held brief for attorney Leeroy Banner.
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