When it came down to it, Crown prosecutors didn’t have enough evidence against Michael Stevens, one of three defendants in the ongoing MoneyGram robbery trial, defence attorneys argued.
The judge agreed, and Mr. Stevens walked out of High Court Friday morning a free man.
“I have directed the jury to deliver a verdict of not guilty because of the state of the evidence against you,” Justice Albert Redhead said. “That does not mean that you are innocent. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Stevens responded, before leaving the defendants’ dock and walking out of the courtroom with a smile on his face.
During the trial, testimony from investigating officers described several items that were found inside a covered ghut not far from MoneyGram’s location on Flemming Street. Among those items was a black T-shirt.
An expert witness, Tiffany Roy, said DNA analysis linked Mr. Stevens to the item. Prosecutors offered little evidence against him beyond that.
Defence attorneys argued that the defendant shared a room with his brother Jason Stevens, who pleaded guilty to taking part in the MoneyGram robbery, and it is likely the two shared clothing.
Mikhail Howe and Rodney Simmonds Jr. remain on trial. A verdict is expected soon.
See the June 28, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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