Antonio Frett was acquitted of assault and firearms charges last Thursday, after Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens ruled the Crown had not proven a case against him beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Jan. 28, 2010, Mr. Frett allegedly got into an argument with his cousin, Marva Patterson, about work being done by a heavy equipment operator in their shared yard in Josiahs Bay.
Ms. Patterson told police that Mr. Frett pulled out a gun, fired it several times in her direction, and hit her with it on the right side of her head, Ms. Stephens said in reviewing the evidence given in the case. Police found the gun at the scene, she said.
Mr. Frett denied the charges, saying he did not have a gun and did not assault Ms. Patterson.
He also said he could not have hit Ms. Patterson on the right side of her head in the manner she described, since he has no right arm.
See the Sept. 22, 2011 edition for full coverage.