THE CASE of 21-year-old Jerome Pinnock, a graphic artist of Portmore, St. Catherine, took an unusual turn yesterday when he was freed of murder on a no-case submission after stating his defence.
Attorney Bert Samuels, who represented Pinnock, sought special leave of the court to make the submission, and the application was granted. No-case submissions are usually made at the end of the Crown's case.
Pinnock, who was charged with the murder of Terry Johnson, of Greater Portmore, said that he was attacked by Johnson who stabbed him on his mouth. He wrestled with the deceased and took the knife from him. He said he stabbed Johnson while he (Pinnock) was still being held.
Witnesses for the Crown had testified in the St. Catherine Circuit Court that on June 8, 1999, Johnson who had a knife in his hand, went through the back door of a house in Greater Portmore. About three minutes later, Johnson returned holding his chest. Johnson said "the boy Jerome stab me." Mr. Samuels submitted last week Friday that the witnesses were not able to say what took place at the back of the house.
He argued that the prosecution had a duty "to negative" the clear case of self-defence raised by Pinnock, but the prosecution could not do so.
Miss Justice Gloria Smith reserved her ruling to determine whether the submission could properly be made at the end of the case for the defence. When the trial resumed yesterday, the judge agreed that the submission could be made.
The judge then upheld the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
