Since May of 2018, he’s been on remand for murder, but tonight 23-year-old Benjamin Alexander Reid is home free. That’s after the DPP’s Office had to abruptly end their prosecution against him.

Reid was charged with the May 2018 murder of 43-year-old Daniel Guardado, a Salvadoran mechanic, and a working man with no known gang or criminal ties. Sometime between May 5 and May 6 of that year, Guardado was on Partridge Street extension, and reports to 7News at that time was that he went to visit a mechanic friend to show off a new motorcycle he had purchased. He was reportedly having a conversation with his friend’s brother when a gunman rode up on a bicycle. The assailant positioned himself to avoid raising alarm, and he then opened fire, injuring Guardado multiple times. Guardado died shortly after being shot.

Reid's murder trial without jury began 2 days ago before Justice Colin Williams, and Senior Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell was depending on a key witness to testify against him. Unfortunately, neither the DPP’s Office or the police could locate that witness for today’s testimony, and so, the crown counsel was forced to enter a “nolle prosâ€￾ against Reid.

He was allowed to leave court today after it was explained to him that the DPP’s Office can bring criminal charges against him a second time if they believe they have the evidence to prove their case against him.