Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

A St Ann farmer was freed of a murder charge last week after the sole eyewitness failed to remember vital aspects of the case.

Attorney-at-law Kenneth Ferguson, who prosecuted the case, had to offer no further evidence against Kevin Cole, 33, of Ocho Rios.

When the witness, Barrington McDowell, was called to testify in the St Ann Circuit Court, he said he could not recall seeing the accused stabbing 23-year-old Andrew Blake, of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

He could not recall giving a statement to the police in which certain allegations were made against the accused. He also could not remember what he had said at the preliminary inquiry into the murder charge.

Cole was represented by attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie.

The allegations were that on December 30, 2005, Blake and a group of vendors had a dispute because the vendors were blocking the entrance to a farm store, which is owned by the accused's father.

It was further alleged that the accused left and returned in the company of four men. The accused allegedly stabbed Blake in the chest.

Cole turned himself in to the police and was pointed out at an identification parade.

After the Crown offered no further evidence against Cole on Tuesday, Supreme Court judge Almarie Sinclair Haynes directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com.