By Ronalda Luke
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple says the State will appeal a “no case submission” upheld by High Court Judge, Justice Colin Williams, in the murder trial of Curt Charles, effectively bringing the proceedings to a close and resulting in Charles’ release from custody. The decision was rendered this morning.
Charles had been indicted for the murder of 52-year-old Eddy James, also known as “Wadada,” in an incident that allegedly occurred in the Silver Lake community on October 20, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and had been on trial for the past week.
In a brief comment to Nature Isle News (NIN), DPP Dalrymple expressed “disappointment” at the no case submission being upheld and stated, “We believe that we have a strong case, so we will take the matter to the Court of Appeal.”
During the trial, which commenced on May 15, 2025, the prosecution’s case, which the DPP Sherma Dalrymple led, called seven witnesses to give evidence. The State officially closed its case on Wednesday, May 22, 2025.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case on May 22, 2025, defense attorneys David Bruney and Tiyani Behanzin made “a no case submission” on behalf of their client. The submission challenged the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence, arguing that it was inadequate to warrant the matter proceeding to the jury for deliberation.
In a ruling delivered shortly after the submission was presented, Justice Williams agreed with the defense’s position and upheld the no-case submission. He directed the nine-member jury, comprising three men and six women, to return a formal verdict of “not guilty”. The jury complied with the judge’s directive, and Curt Charles was acquitted of the charge.
Charles was immediately discharged and left the court as a free man.
A comprehensive report on the trial, including the legal arguments and testimony presented, is expected to follow.