Hearing to Challenge Acquittal of Two Men Set for 2026

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A Court of Appeal hearing to challenge the directed acquittal of two men has been put off until next year.

Lloyd Minnis and Perry Pickering were acquitted of the murders of eight-year-old Eugene Woodside Jr and 23-year-old Dennis Moss on December 3 after prosecutors did not call any witnesses to support the charges.

The failure to call any witnesses came after Justice Dale Fitzpatrick refused to reconsider an application for a key witness to testify anonymously after prosecutors, without explanation, had missed multiple deadlines to do so.

After the prosecutor called no witnesses, the judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts.

Prosecutors alleged that on September 25, 2017 a gunman was firing shots at Moss and the bullets ripped the Woodside’a wooden home, hitting Eugene in the chest as he did his homework.

When the appeal was called before Justices of Appeal Milton Evans, Bernard Turner and Gregory Hilton, defense lawyers Dr Glendon Rolle and Tamika Roberts requested adjournments because they needed time to respond to the prosecution’s submissions, which they had just received.

The matter was adjourned to February 2 for mention.

Pickering has been released from custody while Minnis remains behind bars, as he’s serving a sentence for gun possession.