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Men Cleared Of Security Guard Murder
posted (June 15, 2015)
Accused murderers Talbert Mena and Jamal Jackson are free tonight after they were acquitted before Justice Troadio Gonzalez.

Both men were charged with murder for an incident which occurred on February 14, 2010, at Biltmore Plaza Hotel where Nigerian security guard Kabiru Olungundudu was working. Olungundudu was found dead in the security booth the following day. He had been stabbed about 8 times. According to the evidence, four men went to Biltmore to commit a robbery but they were unsuccessful and during the attempt Olungundudu was stabbed.

The chief prosecution witness against both men was Kareem Stevens. He was initially charged with murder but was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying on behalf of the Crown. But Stevens was deemed a hostile witness when he took the witness stand and denied that he gave the police a statement.

With with no evidence to tie the men to the crime, their attorneys Alifa Elrington-Hyde and Simeon Sampson made submissions that they had no case to answer to. After consideration, Justice Gonzalez agreed and directed a jury of 12 to return a formal verdict of not guilty for Mena and Jackson.

So, they have been freed of the charge, but a third man, Daniel Myvett, is still on remand while he waits for his trial for the security guard's death.

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