After three trials, a Court of Appeal hearing, and almost 3 years in lock-up, 29 year old Tifarra Smith charged with the murder of her brother, 18 year old Dale Lino, was finally freed of the charge yesterday.
Smith's attorney, Simeon Sampson made a 'no case to answer submission' in the Corozal Supreme court of Justice Denis Hanomansingh after the prosecution closed its case, having called a total of 5 witnesses.
Not included in those five, was WPC Elizabeth Thompson, the arresting officer who had given a statement stating that Smith had verbally confessed to her that she had killed Lino. Without Thompson's testimony, the prosecution's case fell apart.
As a result, Justice Hanomansingh upheld the submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
The incident occurred in April 2007, at 11th Street, Corozal Town where Smith and Lino lived with their mother. Smith had accused Lino of picking the lock on her door and stealing 4 packs of Ramen noodles, along with ten dollars.
Lino was said to have been fatally stabbed in his chest shortly after the altercation. Since the trial of Smith got underway, she was found guilty in July of 2009 and sentenced to life imprisonment, then won an appeal for retrial in October of 2009. She was declared unfit to stand trial by a psychiatrist at her retrial and then ordered by Justice Michelle Arana to six months of therapy.
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