The Tribune

A MAN walked free from the Supreme Court yesterday after the prosecution, on the orders of the Attorney General, discontinued its murder case against him.

Yesterday's nolle prosequi presented in court does not mean a future charge against Anthony Charles Hall cannot be brought.

But the murder charge against him was discontinued as of yesterday, along with charges of armed robbery and housebreaking.

The "nolle pros", a court order that had to be signed by new Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, was brought by prosecutors because an accused due to stand trial with Hall, Ryan Omar Butler, could not be found.

The nolle prosequi itself did not apply to Butler, as prosecutors said his name was not on the document.

Both men were charged in connection with the December 2002 home invasion, hold-up murder of Jean Claude Louissaint.

Butler had failed to appear for a fixture hearing in April, compelling Justice Roy Jones to issue a warrant for his arrest

Anthony Hall had been on bail up to last month. However, his bail had been revoked for his failure to comply with weekly reporting conditions.

Yesterday morning, the murder trial was expected to start, but the prosecution was not prepared to proceed as Butler was still missing.

The case was put down until 2.30pm when the prosecution was expected to lodge the nolle prosequi which they presented yesterday afternoon.

Justice Jones told Hall that the charge against him was being discontinued and that he was free to go unless there was another matter detaining him.

Hall was represented by Murrio Ducille while an absent Butler had retained Dorsey McPhee.

In law, nolle prosequi describes a prosecutor's decision to voluntarily discontinue criminal charges either before trial or before a verdict is rendered.