Twenty-eight year old John Lorenzo Martinez who was charged with the murder of 38 year old prison warden Ernest Savery, was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Adolkph Lucas in a trial without a jury.

The prosecution's case fell apart when main witness, 23 year old Martin Teul became a hostile witness after he said he cannot remember what happened.

Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell then made an attempt to have Teul's statement admitted as evidence but he testified that he was forced to give the statement.

Teul said he was beaten by the police and he was handcuffed to a chair and he was released after he gave the statement. Justice Lucas' ruling was that the statement was not freely given and as a result, it cannot be admitted as evidence.

With that, the Crown was forced to close its case. Martinez attorney, Jeremy Courtenay then made a submission that Martinez does not have a case to answer to and Justice Lucas upheld the submission and acquitted Martinez.