UPDATE: Prosecution’s case crumbles in Tiger’s murder trial
They were all found not guilty of murder, sending shock waves throughout the Virgin Islands society and social media. However, Lloyd was also found not guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter, having been charged with this because of his alleged role of being the mastermind behind the plan to allegedly rob ‘Tiger’. Lloyd was also accused of supplying the guns - a Glock handgun and an AK-47 assault rifle- to allegedly commit the murder.
The brutal murder took place on a Friday night, September 10, 2010 and yesterday’s decision is a departure from the conclusion of the two previous trials which both ended in mistrials.
Closing arguments
In the three weeks of the duration of the trial, the Prosecution was lead by attorney at law Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit. In her closing arguments she pointed out that while star witness in the case Terrence Abdullah Charles was no angel, his testimony could be relied upon because he was there with the other three in the commission of the crime. She referred to him as a direct witness who was not only in the vehicle that went to the residence of Hodge but that he drove the vehicle at one stage and that he was in the house to help to carry the safe that was recovered from the house on the fateful night.
In making her summation of the evidence, Justice Vicki Ann Ellis warned the jury to make sure that they consider all of the evidence in coming up with their decision. She said it was not the duty of the accused to prove their innocence but of the Prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the men’s guilt.
She cautioned them about the testimony of Terrence Abdullah Charles, noting that he had admitted to changing his story because he was “scared” and did not want to “rat out his friends.”
In their closing statements, the defence attorneys all discredited the testimony of Charles on whose testimony the Crown relied to lead their prosecution. They each said that the only evidence that seems to be against their client is the word of someone who had been a part of the plan to rob Hodge and who had been inconsistent with his story.
On behalf of Marcus Lloyd, attorney at law Patrick Thompson asked whether Charles had ever described the guns used in the shooting during his testimony.
Thompson also said there was no evidence to support all that is being said about his client except that which came from Charles.
“Has Charles ever described those guns to you?” he asked, adding that when Charles had been interviewed by Police during the investigations he never mentioned guns. “Members of the jury I ask you to carefully consider what Charles has said...because he is an accomplice...he may have a reason to tell untruths,” Thompson had said in his closing arguments to the jury.
In his final appeal to the members of the jury, Attorney at Law Jamal S. Smith on behalf of his client Wakeem Guishard said that Charles is a “smart guy” who duped the justice system and was able to get a reduced sentence as a result.
According to Smith, no evidence other than the testimony of Charles places Guishard at Hodge’s house.
Former Magistrate and attorney at law Valerie Stephens-Gordon represented Mitch Christopher.
See previous article published May 4, 2016
Tiger's murder accused set free!
- Jury returns not guilty verdict third time around
After two mistrials, the three men accused of murdering Daren Allen ‘Tiger’ Hodge on September 10, 2010 were found not guilty by a panel of jurors in the High Court moments ago, May 4, 2016.
Marcus Lloyd, Wakeem Guishard and Mitch Christopher were all charged for murder in the death of Hodge, while Lloyd also had an additional charge of manslaughter.
The jury returned a unanimous decision of not guilty on all counts.
Justice Vicki Ann Ellis told police to ensure the men leave the court precincts immediately upon being freed.
The three men were greeted and hugged by tearful family members in the court compound.
More details to follow shortly.
64 Responses to “UPDATE: Prosecution’s case crumbles in Tiger’s murder trial”
ok smart @$$
... d**troy my boy and here in the court yard smiling
Not guilty does not mean that they didn't commit the crime...not guilty means that the prosecutor's job was to convince the jury that these men committed a crime, and failed to do so. These men have nothing to prove, it solely rest on the prosecutor to bring forth sufficient facts, evidence, witnesses etc to aid in convincing the jury. If they are not able to sway the jurors they (the jurors) HAVE to deliver a not guilty verdict BASED on what is DELIVERED in court NOT hear say or OPINION.
That long hair R*asta going to be back on he ig****ce
Hope he don't mash the wrong man corn moving forward.
jury scarred
All 3 of them going g** !t... I say so
Prosecution is a joke, we learn an important lesson....take justice.......
How could you make such a comment? Where you there, did you have anything to do with what happen? Maybe, maybe not.
The prosecution main witness changed his story more than he changed his underwares so shut up. Then he want to say is them man kill tiger but he himself pleaded guilty to actually killing tiger, my question is how 4 guys could kill one person
What goes around comes around
M....... gon feel more untouchable now but for every bad man got a badder man
Yeah man rejoice now... Better watch ya b**#
The Penn/Maloney family paid for Kendoy Penn's schooling just to let you know. Kindly refrain from speaking on matters you know nothing about.
Justice wasn't served in court....but that boy there....so called hit man,.....?? D**d man walking!
God don't Sleep... whether or not they did it or didn't do it No deservers to be taken out in such horrible way.. However whomever did the sort I'm pretty sure time will SOONNNNNNNN tell... It's now just a waiting period to watch it all unfold... I personally thinks that with high cases as the such doesn't need WEAK @$$ JURORS from here they need Jurors from away... Because I personally feel that these Jurors are afraid and you just never know who know who and who know what. But hey I'm pretty sure TIME WILL TELL!!!! We need to Enjoy our free time now cause TOMMOROW SURE ISNT PROMISED :-)
If there is anyone to blame, it's the investigating officers because they did a poor job bringing forth evidence to corroborate what the guy said. Furthermore, the officers probably couldn't find evidence because the guy was lying. Only a liar would change his story a million times.