Jury finds 3 men not guilty of preparing to murder

Despite having a battery of weapons, masks, surgical gloves, and a bullet proof vest inside the vehicle they were accused of stealing, three men were acquitted of all charges on Thursday in the Supreme Court. The D.P.P.’s office had charged Micah Thompson, Brian Hererra, and Sheldon Tillett with the seldom used “preparation to commit murder” or in the alternative “preparation to commit robbery,” in addition to theft, and illegal weapons and ammunition charges.

During the trial, two police officers testified that they apprehended the men on October twenty-ninth, 2004, on Antelope Street and found an AK-47, Tec-9 Uzi submachine gun, a nine millimeter gun, ammunition, ski masks, and other items in plain view in the car. The vehicle’s owner, seventy-five year old Edward Flowers, also testified that his vehicle had been stolen. Court observers tell News Five that Justice Lucas repeatedly stated to the jury in his summation that he “did not see the evidence to prove this.” Three hours later, the nine member jury was sent to deliberate and returned a unanimous not guilty verdict and the men were free to leave. It should be noted, however, that Brian Herera only got a short taste of freedom as following the trial, he was quickly detained by police in connection with another offence.

All three men are said to have a long history of illegal firearm offenses and have been fined at the Magistrate Court level many times. Attorney Ellis Arnold defended Tillett and Hererra, while Lutchman Sooknandan represented Thompson. Crown Counsel Audrey Matura prosecuted the case.