A Home Circuit Court jury deliberated for 45 minutes Thursday before freeing 42-year-old plumber Jeffrey Lyons of the murder of his neighbour Everald Williams.

Williams of Cliftin Hill, Bernard Lodge, St Catherine, was shot dead a few chains from his home on December 18, 2002. Lyons, who is employed to the National Water Commission, went on trial two weeks ago.

It was alleged that three men, including Lyons, went to Bernard Lodge where Williams and two other men were located.

Chris Cathrie was also fatally shot during the incident and a third man was shot in the back. Lyons was not charged in connection with those offences.

The sole eyewitness for the Crown was a 12-year-old girl, who was six at the time of the shooting.

The girl testified before Justice Horace Marsh and the jury that she knew Lyons before the incident. She said she saw when Lyons shot Williams in the neck.

However, medical evidence showed that Williams had one gunshot entry wound - to the back.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, the doctor said that he found no gunpowder burns at the gunshot entry wound to the back.

He said if Williams was shot at close range, there would be gunpowder burns around the entry wound.

Lyons, in his defence, said he was not involved, claiming he was at his house when he heard the explosions.