Trio freed of murder charges

Friday, November 27^th, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: Police Street resident Harrison Smith was killed on North Front Street on October 3, 2014. Police almost immediately arrested 28 year old Bartholomew Lucas, 28 year old Daniel Caine and 20 year old Oscar Flores, the latter of the Pinks Alley area.

But today they were set free, as according to Lucas and Flores’ attorney, Oscar Selgado, Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith was of the view that after a year on remand, the police department had failed to produce sufficient evidence against the men to support the charge of murder. Daniel Caine was represented by Kareem Musa. The charge was officially withdrawn after no case file was presented today.

Selgado added that while the police alleged that eyewitnesses placed two of the men at the scene, there is contradicting statements coming from police witnesses who placed the men at Chon Sing Restaurant and it was impossible for them to be in two place at once.

Selgado also spoke of the police having intelligence of a surveillance camera that showed the men’s alibi that they were all at Chon Sing Restaurant at the time Smith was killed.

Selgado’s opinion is that his clients may consider lawsuits for false imprisonment since they had raised alibi witnesses and police failed to follow them up.

Harrison Smith and 23 year old Eustace Lewis were riding on separate bicycles at the intersection with Pickstock Street at around 8:00 p.m. that night, when two men on separate bicycle rode up and opened fire hitting them both. Smith succumbed to his injuries later while Eustace Lewis was only injured.

Bart Lucas is celebrating his 28th birthday and his family say they are interested in legal action.

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