By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of involvement in a Christmas Eve 2023 shooting walked free from court on Friday after being acquitted of murder and attempted murder.
Nelson Major, 32, was found not guilty by an 8–1 jury verdict before Justice Loren Klein. After further deliberations, the jury returned similar 8–1 not guilty verdicts on the alternative counts of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm.
Justice Klein told Major he was free to go.
A female relative wept and embraced him outside the court after the verdict.
The prosecution argued Major played a key role as the driver of a motorcycle used in the shooting of Torvaz Dames and Cardicyn Collie in the Balfour Avenue area on December 24, 2023. The defence maintained Major never fired a weapon.
According to the case, Major and another man allegedly pursued the victims, who were shot by assailants on a motorcycle. Dames reportedly returned fire.
The victims’ vehicle later stopped at Robinson and Claridge Roads, where officers saw Collie place Dames into the back of a white vehicle. Collie later stopped in Montell Heights, where Dames, 23, a father of two, died of his injuries.
A witness said they saw Dames shoot at the accused.
Major told police he followed the victims because they had shot at “his boy” at the tracks.
Keevon Maynard represented Major. Janessa Murray and Gary Rolle III prosecuted.
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