After spending the last four years on remand, 25-year-old Matthew Parks was freed of a murder charge by High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon due to insufficient evidence.
Parks, formerly of East La Penitence, Georgetown, was on trial for the September 13, 2018 murder of Roger Allen, 23. The State was represented by prosecutor Cicelia Corbin.
Parks’ attorney, Damien DaSilva submitted that the defence had no case to answer since the prosecutor failed to establish a case against his client.
Justice Kissoon agreed with the no-case submission of the defence and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
The News Room understands that the key eyewitness in the case refused to testify and could not be located after cutting all contact with the prosecution.
Several other important witnesses could not be located as well and some of them also refused to testify.
Allen, a labourer, was stabbed in his chest during an altercation at a minimart at Durban and Chapel Streets, Lodge.
It is alleged that at about 17:00 hrs, Parks exited the minimart and was confronted by Allen who was reportedly armed with a piece of wood and a knife.
A scuffle ensued and both men sustained injuries. The men were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Allen underwent emergency surgery for two suspected stab wounds but later succumbed.
In many Countries once a witness gives a statement they have to follow thru or they become the criminal. Of course someone can change their statement and say they lied but that too can lead to consequences. This is pretty harsh on the victims family if it is common knowledge who killed the victim.