Manslaughter accused Gavin Towler was found not guilty yesterday of the charge that he killed his common-law wife Samantha Marques, due to insufficient evidence.
Towler gulped as he bowed his head in silence when Justice Jo-Ann Barlow directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict at the conclusion of his trial in the High Court.
Tears gushed from his mother’s eyes as she uttered the word “Jesus,” with a sigh of relief. Judge Barlow told Towler, “You are free to go” but expressed her hope that the freed man would be able to secure a job to provide for the children.
Towler was acquitted because the state did not establish a prima facie case against him, based on the evidence that was presented.
The prosecutors were Michael Shahoud and Narissa Leander.
