Mark Greaves, who was on trial for Owen Fredericks’ December 25, 2015 murder, will spend his holiday weekend as a free man following the court’s determination that there insufficient evidence to proceed with the matter. This decision was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown on Thursday after Graves’ Attorney, George Thomas, presented a no-case submission in the absence of the 12-member jury, as is customary.
Mark Greaves became a free man after two days of trial
Just after lunch, the jury was recalled and the Judge informed the panel of the prosecution’s insufficient evidence. As such, he ordered Justice Singh to return a formal not guilty verdict. Thereafter, Singh told the former accused that he was free to go and Greaves, all smiles, departed the court and walked to freedom.
The prosecution had contended that Fredericks was murdered at James Street Albouystown, Georgetown and Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan had given his cause of death as shock and haemorrhage via a cut to the artery from stab wound. The jury was told that Fredericks would have suffered “extensive” blood loss. When State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs presented the opening address on Wednesday, she indicated that the deceased did odd jobs and noted that the Fredericks and Greaves had a verbal exchange which, according to her, led to the stabbing. Gibbs had also told the jury that the deceased died as a result of injuries. It was reported that Fredericks was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
A medical report was tendered into evidence on Wednesday after the Judge overruled the prosecution’s objection which contended that the exhibit did not form part of its case. It was under cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer that former Police Constable Xavier Vasconselos indicated from the report that the deceased was stabbed to the chest.
Prosecutor Shawnette Austin also appeared for the State, while Attorney Nekeisha Persaud assisted Defence Counsel Thomas.
Greaves is the second murder-accused in just weeks to have been freed by a Judge’s determination as opposed to the matter being handed to the jury. On February 8, Edward “Pretty Boy” Skeete and Nabadingi Gobin, called “Dangles”, were freed of Ryan Clementson’s murder at the Turning Point Tucville Snackette murder by Justice Navindra Singh on the contention that there was insufficient evidence to continue with trial. This came after no-case submissions were made and upheld. In this case, it was however reported that the Director of Public Prosecutions has appealed the acquittal on grounds that the dying declaration should have been admitted into evidence. The duo’s lawyers were Nigel Hughes and Mark Waldron. (Shemuel Fanfair)
