Samuel Livingstone Cleared After High Court Rules Insufficient Evidence
Samuel Livingstone has been discharged of a charge of shooting with intent after the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
Justice Tunde A. Bakre handed down the ruling on February 18, 2025, citing unreliable and contradictory evidence. The case stemmed from allegations that Livingstone fired two shots at Geneal Francis on February 7, 2019, in Potters. However, inconsistencies in witness testimony, forensic findings, and conflicting accounts of the incident undermined the prosecution’s case.
At the close of the prosecution’s arguments, defence counsel Andrew O’Kola successfully submitted a “No Case” motion, citing R v. Galbraith [1981]. O’Kola welcomed the ruling, stating, “Justice has prevailed today. This case was built on unreliable evidence, and it would have been a grave miscarriage of justice to proceed.”
Justice Bakre ruled that the case was too weak to be put before a jury, reinforcing the principle that a fair trial requires credible evidence. With the court’s decision, Livingstone is now free of the charge.
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Nothing new in these cases. I hope if he did, he don’t actually kill the person this time….
No case submission. How you take a man to jail, to court with nothing? Anyway this is antigua
He will be looking over his shoulder.
Since 2019 ? We in 2025 nd the case throw away ! Why have him in Dey for so long Chupz !!!
Justice must be fair, but this will leave many questioning the system
If there was no case, why was he charged in the first place?
This shows why a strong legal defense is important, but what about the victims?
Not guilty doesn’t always mean innocent, but I guess the law has spoken.
What does this mean really? Smhhh ….
How lucky but you will continue to play badman role so Dappa you may get taken out from copper.. ..All you young men just love crime and violence these days
If the court can’t deliver justice then the streets will.
Please STOP!
The system is judicial system is failing and is slowly molding and shaping us to soon execute our won levels of justice.
The Moses law will soon be installed and then the entire island will become blind and teethless just because of the garbage justice system.
God’s judgement is always fair, escape now, but you will never escape God’s judgement.
This happens because as you see he is paying a legion to the underworld people open your eyes……if u know you know.
The dark side of life seems to be winning but in God’s timing we will aaaaaaall see 👀
Fingers should be pointing at the office of the DDP. Two murder cases and an attempted murder case being thrown out by the high court in less than a month.
This tells me that there is serious incompetence within the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
If the Judge is agreeing with the defense that there is insufficient evidence to proceed, then why is the matter before the court in the first place?
If you do not have enough evidence or the evidence that you have do not meet the prosecutorial threshold, then charges should not be brought.
This is embarrassing to say the least.
He deserved to be hanged not freed but he will get caught up again and he won’t make it to jail..
Seems like the criminals nowadays are getting freed from the courts too easily. The lawyers did their biddings. It is not that crimes are not being committed but, people are afraid to come forward. However, our Police investigators (serious crime personnel) need some hardcore investigative training. The investigations are too shallow and moreso, persons have no confidence in law enforcement anymore (as stated earlier)hence, people who see crimes committed, aren’t coming forward. I do hope that, that changes very soon so justice can be served yo those who think they can commit heinous crimes and get away. I also hope that the young man and other criminal elements in our society, amend their ways.
Attorney Andrew O’Kola is on a roll. Clearly we have some serious issues with the Office of the DPP and the prosecution arm of the Police. This is no comfort for the families of the bereaved victim and paints a very grim picture of the fate of justice in this country. Mr. Attorney General, where are you?