Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter 
FILE -
Joel Andem, formerly Jamaica's most wanted man, being escorted by a policeman before his appearance at the Gun Court in downtown Kingston on June 17, 2004.
Reputed GANG leader Joel Andem was yesterday freed of one of two murder charges in the Home Circuit Court, but he was remanded in custody to face trial for the second charge.
The failure of the sole eyewitness to testify forced the prosecution to offer no further evidence against the 42-year-old Andem.
The former leader of the 'Gideon Warrior' gang, which has roots in east rural St. Andrew, was on the police most wanted list for four years until he was captured in Clarksonville, St. Ann, in May 2004.
He was wanted in connection with the commission of several crimes. These included the murder of 48-year-old gas station operator Sylvia Edwards, who was kidnapped along Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, in July 2000. When a demand for ransom of $200,000 was not met she was shot dead and buried in a shallow grave at University Heights, Constitution Hill, St. Andrew.
WITNESS AFRAID
Yesterday, Andem was freed of the murder of 30-year-old Lennox Ffrench, who was shot dead at his gate at Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, on June 26, 2000.
Mr. Justice Lloyd Hibbert directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty, freeing Andem. When the sole witness was called to testify yesterday, he began fidgeting in the witness box and even made attempts to leave the area.
"I am suffering from stress. My heart cannot take it," the witness told the court. He then said he did not wish to give any further evidence or statement, stressing that the incident took place five years ago.
Although the witness said he was not threatened by Andem or anyone connected to the accused, he said he lived in a certain community and did not want to be walking and looking over his shoulder. He said he had his children to live for.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Georgiana Fraser offered no further evidence against Andem.
However, he is to stand trial for the death of Sylvia Edwards.
Attorneys-at-law Berthan Macaulay, Q.C., Richard Small, Janet Nosworthy and Lloyd Shackleford represented Andem.
