Charges against Mark Vernon withdrawn

Also in Magistrates’ Court, charges against Mark Vernon, a nineteen year old stevedore, were struck out today. Vernon was charged with Attempted Murder, Dangerous Harm and Use of Deadly Means of Harm in connection with a shooting between nine-thirty and ten o’clock on the night of July tenth. Vernon was freed of the charges because the complainant, twenty-four year old fisherman Emilio Rivero, gave a statement in which he said he did not want any further court action. Since there was no other evidence against Vernon, the Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Tait, via memorandum, instructed the prosecution to withdraw the charges. Rivero reported to police that he was on his way home through an alley next to Old Faber’s Road when he met Vernon whom he has known for fifteen years. Rivero further claimed that he asked Vernon what was going on and in reply, Vernon fired a shot which struck him in his right ear and exited through his right eye. Rivero says he was additionally shot in the abdomen and hip. Police believe the shooting was a “hit.” Vernon is on bail for a charge of Manslaughter by Negligence involving the fatal shooting of David Burgess.