Murder charge dropped

Almost 20 months after he was charged with the murder of his neighbour and family friend, Malvern Nigel James of Sea View Farm has been relieved of the burden – the case was dropped in the All Saints Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
James, 36, was all smiles in court yesterday when he learned from Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel that the murder case would be discontinued.
The accused was charged with killing Glenmore “Nattie” Hughes who was injured on February 10, 2017, and died a week later.
But, yesterday the case came to an end upon recommendations from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Anthony Armstrong, who stated that the matter should not proceed to trial because the medical/autopsy report suggested that James’s actions did not lead to the death.
According to earlier reports, 51-year-old Hughes of Sea View Farm had an altercation with the accused which caused him to fall and hit his head on the road. 
Witnesses said that Hughes was standing in the road outside a bar when a vehicle drove up slowly and he was instructed, by a friend to get out of the road. While moving, the side of the vehicle brushed against him and the drink he had in his hand spilled into the car and on the driver.
James, the driver, reportedly got out of the vehicle and slapped Hughes, who fell to the ground and became unconscious.
The Emergency Medical Services rushed the injured man to the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre where remained on life support until his death a week later.
James, who was remanded to prison after the incident, was initially charged with the attempted murder of his friend. The charge was later upgraded when Hughes died.
His death was  recorded as the second homicide for 2017.