With no-case submission upheld, Corentyne man walks free of murder charge

After spending two years on remand, 23-year-old Rickford Thomas called “Baba” was on Thursday freed of a murder charge after Justice Navindra Singh upheld a no-case submission made by his attorney Surihya Sabsook.

Thomas formerly of Rose Hall Town and Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on trial at the Berbice High Court before a 12-member jury.

He had pleaded not guilty to the offence which read that on December 25, 2019, at Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, he murdered Carlos Williams, called “Tony”.

The state was represented by prosecutor, Nafeeza Baig.

The defence, in its no-case submission, argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove its case against Thomas.

The judge agreed with the submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

According to reports, in the wee hours of Christmas day in 2019, Williams and his reputed wife Charlene Harry, and a friend, Paul Grant, were drinking at a club at Portuguese Quarters in Berbice.

Williams reportedly stepped out of the club and when about ten minutes had passed without him returning, his wife went looking for him.

She found her husband and Thomas involved in a scuffle on the parapet.

During the altercation, he was stabbed with a sharp object.

Williams was taken to Port Mourant Public Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.