Justice James Bovell-Drakes last week set a man free after a jury found him not guilty of manslaughter at a High Court trial.

The judge told Anthony Williams that he was free to leave about 30 minutes after jury deliberations.

Williams was placed before the court to answer for the March 20, 2003 death of Gordon McFarlane at West Ruimveldt, Front Road.

The prosecution said that the two men had had a fight and McFarlane was stabbed during the scuffle. State Counsel, Donelle Harding-Hawke, called witnesses to the stand who testified to the scuffle but no one recalled seeing a knife being used.

Williams told the court that on the said date, McFarlane rushed him with a knife. The evidence suggested that the accused was either defending himself or that the deceased was accidentally stabbed. Attorney-at-law Vic Puran represented Williams.