The prosecution was yesterday forced to close its case in the trial of Keith Ferrier, one of the accused in the 2009 arson of the Ministry of Health building at Brickdam, due to the non-appearance of some 19 witnesses.
As a result, Ferrier’s attorney yesterday made a no-case submission and called for the charge against the man to be dismissed.
Ferrier was charged on July 30, 2009 with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to the Ministry of Health building but had fled the jurisdiction after being released on $350,000 bail. He was recaptured this year.
During yesterday’s court proceedings before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Prosecutor Neville Jeffers called on Chief Electrical Inspector at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Roland Bartley to give evidence.