Alvin Barkley, who was accused of murdering barber Yohan Hunte in 2012 at the Route 40 minibus park during a row over electricity theft, was freed on Monday by Justice Diana Insanally in the High Court.
Barkley was released after he was found not guilty of murder by a 12-member jury following a short trial. He was charged with the murder of Hunte, also known as ‘Man on the Roof’.
According to reports, the two men got involved in a fight after Hunte accused Barkley of stealing his electricity. Both men were working as barbers in the vicinity of the bus park when the fight broke out.
A police witness had testified that Barkley went to the Brickdam Police Station on the day of the incidence and filed a report that he stabbed Hunte. The witness said Barkley told her that a fight ensued between them and Hunte pulled a knife and threatened to kill him. Barkley, she said, added that he then pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed Hunte. She said Barkley then gave her the scissor and she lodged it as evidence.
Barkley, however, had denied stabbing Hunte. He told the court that the two of them got into a fight and a crowd started pulling and tugging at Hunte. He said someone in the crowd then “juk” Hunte and he fell to the ground.
After six witnesses were called and Justice Insanally summed up the case, the jurors deliberated and returned with a not-guilty verdict. The trial started two weeks ago. Attorney Mercedes Thompson presented the state’s case while attorney George Thomas represented Barkley.
