Unable to locate key witnesses, and left struggling to disprove that he had acted in self-defence, the prosecution on Thursday failed in its efforts to secure a conviction against Matthew Parks.
Parks was on trial at the High Court in Demerara for fatally stabbing fellow Freeman Street, East La Penitence resident and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) worker, Roger Allen; during a fight.
The capital indictment against him had alleged that he murdered Allen on September 13th, 2019 at D’Urban and Chapel streets, Lodge, Georgetown.
He had always maintained his innocence.
At the close of the prosecution’s case on Thursday, defence attorney Damien Da Silva submitted to the court that his client should have no case to answer, as there was none against him.
Da Silva argued that not only was the prosecution unable to rebut his client’s defence that he had been defending himself; but also, that the State had no witness to testify otherwise.
The alleged eye-witness refused to testify and could not be located after cutting all contact with the prosecution.
Further to that, several other important witnesses could also not be located and/or refused to come forward to testify.
In the circumstances, trial Judge Sandil Kissoon upheld the submissions made by Da Silva and directed the jury to formally return a verdict of not guilty in Parks’ favour; thereby setting him free.
The State’s case was led by Prosecutor Cicelia Corbin, along with Simran Gajraj, Rbina Christmas and Madana Rampersaud.
Background
Police had said Allen, 23, a GWI worker, sustained two suspected stab wounds about his body during a scuffle with Parks.
Both men were subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Allen later succumbed.
Parks had also sustained injuries.
