Men Accused of Killing Third Grader Acquitted After Prosecutors Call No Witnesses

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Eight years after a third grader was killed in a double murder, the men police accused of the crime were acquitted after prosecutors called no witnesses to prove their case.

Prosecutors had accused Lloyd Minnis and Perry Pickering of the September 25, 2017 murders of eight-year-old Eugene Woodside Jr and 25-year-old Dennis Moss.

Moss was allegedly fleeing from a gunman when a stray bullet ripped through Eugene’s wooden home at Rosebud Street in Chippingham and struck him in the chest.

Eugene was reportedly doing his homework in the front room when he was shot.

The accused appeared before Justice Dale Fitzpatrick on Wednesday for the start of their trial.

After a jury was selected, the judge invited the prosecutor Terry Archer to make an opening statement to the jury and present his case.

But Archer did not address the jury or call any witnesses in support of the charges.

As a result, Justice Fitzpatrick ordered the jurors to acquit the accused.

Cassie Bethell represented Minnis and Glendon Rolle appeared for Pickering.