Stating that the prosecution had failed in establishing his connection to the murders of elderly South Road women Constance Fraser and Phyllis Caesar; Justice Jo-Ann Barlow yesterday morning discharged Phillip Suffrien who was on trial.
The trial commenced in a voir dire on Wednesday morning and concluded yesterday, following which Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave announced to the court that “the State has no further evidence against this accused.”
After highlighting the State’s failure in discharging its burden of proof and being unable to establish a prima facie case against Suffrien, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in his favour.