The Tribune

THE absence of key witnesses to the March 2011 murder of a man outside a nightclub resulted in the prosecution discontinuing the case against the man accused of the fatal shooting.

Yesterday, prosecutors Vernal Collie and Koschnia Marshall entered a nolle prosequi before Justice Indra Charles, indicating the Crown’s intention not to continue the prosecution against Richard Brown Jr of Mason’s Addition.

Brown was charged with the March 26, 2011 shooting death of Torrie McPhee, which took place outside the Lounge Nightclub at East and Louis Streets.

Brown, who denies the charge, was defended by attorney Anthony Newbold.

On the evening in question, McPhee was among a group of men who got into an altercation with another man, who pulled out a firearm and opened fire.

McPhee, of Tooteshop Corner, was shot in the head and died on the scene.

Yesterday morning, the Crown lawyers came to court with a nolle prosequi signed by Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson, and presented them to the court.

Justice Charles accepted the directives and told the accused that the Crown would discontinue the case against him. However, the judge informed him that the Crown had the right to re-introduce the charge against him at a future date.