Men accused of murder and arson walk free walk free after key witness disappears

Three men accused of a chilling double murder and arson in which two victims were found dead in a bathtub inside a burnt-out house have walked free after the prosecution admitted it could not proceed without its sole eyewitness.

Labourers Malic Saunders, Paul Cort and Omar Brown, otherwise called "Warlord," all of Torrington Park, Kingston 5, were freed in the Home Circuit Court on Thursday after the Crown conceded there was no realistic prospect of securing convictions.

The men had been charged with two counts of murder, arson and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the deaths of Clifton Grant, otherwise called "Lickle Man," 30, and Romario Raymond, otherwise called "Dada," 21, both of Torrington Park.

When the matter came up for trial, the investigating officer told the court that the sole eyewitness, who resides overseas, could not be located despite repeated attempts to contact the individual.

With the key witness unavailable, the Crown informed the court that the case could not proceed.

Justice Chester Stamp subsequently directed that the men be formally acquitted.

Attorneys-at-law Earl Hamilton, JonPaul Hamilton, Patrick Peterkin and Jonoi McDonald welcomed the prosecution's decision, which resulted in their clients' release.

According to the allegations, at about 2:30 a.m. on April 17, 2020, the three accused and other accomplices were allegedly seen by the eyewitness opening fire on the victims' home before setting it ablaze.

Police and firefighters responded to the scene, and during cooling-down operations, the bodies of Grant and Raymond were reportedly discovered in a bathtub inside the charred dwelling.

The men were later pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital.

A police investigation led to the arrest and subsequent charging of the three men.

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