Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
THE TWO men, who were accused of murdering District Constable Colin Thomas and setting him ablaze in his motor car on July 7, 2001 during an upsurge of violence along Mountain View Avenue, St. Andrew, were freed on Wednesday.
They are barber, Garfield Beaumont and labourer, Craig Hazel, of Mountain View. The men were in custody since they were arrested in July 2001.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Donald Bryan, said the case for the prosecution did not meet the required standard.
Mr. Justice Basil Reid directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
CROWN EYEWITNESS DISCREDITED
The sole eyewitness for the Crown was discredited under cross-examination by defence lawyers Lloyd McFarlane and Carolyn Reid. The witness who is a policeman had also identified Beaumont and Hazel in court.
Thomas was driving his motor car to work when he came upon a roadblock in the vicinity of 92 Mountain View Avenue. Evidence was given in the Home Circuit Court that a group of men, including the two accused, fired shots at the motor car.
The burnt body and the motor car were found by policemen, later that day.
The body was not positively identified and, during the hearing on Monday, the prosecutor amended the indictment to read that the men were charged with the murder of a person unknown.
