“Spin and kill” acquitted of 2017 murder in Sophia

A 31-year-old murder accused was freed on Wednesday after Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall upheld a no-case submission by his lawyer.
Trevis Archer, called “Spin and kill”, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was accused of murdering Jamal Munroe, 24, between November 4 and 5, 2017 at Georgetown.
It was alleged that on the day in question, Munroe, a labourer of ‘C’ Field Sophia, was shot and killed following a prolonged rivalry with Archer and another man. Munroe, who sustained gunshot wounds to his legs, upper hand and lower back, died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Following the shooting, the alleged killers escaped, but were later captured.
The rivalry between the now dead man and the men had reportedly started some time back, following a reported gambling disagreement. Munroe had been previously charged with robbery-under-arms and larceny, among other offences.
When the prosecution, led by State Counsel Lisa Cave, closed its case, Archer’s lawyer, Latchmie Rahamat, noted that there was no case against her client. She said the prosecution failed to prove the essential elements of the offence, and that the evidence was so weak and unreliable that it could not yield a lawful conviction.
Rahamat further noted that the identification evidence could not establish that it was her client who had inflicted the injuries on Munroe.
In the absence of evidence linking Archer to the crime, Justice Ramlall upheld the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
Archer had always denied the allegation levelled against him. In fact, upon his arraignment at the High Court, he had entered a not guilty plea. (G1)