One of the three accused charged with conspiracy to murder Inspector Lorraine Elleston was freed yesterday on a no-case submission after the crown closed its case.

He is labourer Calgette Gilbert, 28, of May Pen, Clarendon. Gilbert was charged jointly with May Pen residents businesswoman Althea Morgan-Carr and bar operator Calgette Gilbert with conspiracy to murder.

He was freed after defence lawyer Norma Linton, QC, said that there was no evidence to link Gilbert to the alleged conspiracy.

obeahmen

Jeremy Palmer, deputy director of Public Prosecutions agreed with the submissions and Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict. Morgan-Carr and Smith in their defence denied being in any plot to murder the policewoman. Morgan-Carr said "all I did was to to go obeahmen to try and help me with my case".

They said the main witness for the prosecution Arlene Richards was telling lies that Morgan-Carr had asked her to point out the policewoman to Smith.

Morgan-Carr said she met Richards who is a teacher while they were both in lock-up and Richards said she could get visas and passports for people.

Richards said they could make some money if she got customers for her. She said she got customers for Richards. Smith wanted a passport and Morgan-Carr said she took the forms and money to Richards. People started asking back for their money because Richards was taking a long time to deliver the items. She said on the day they were held by the police she had taken Smith to talk to Richards about his passport.

overstayed

Smith said Morgan-Carr took him to Richards so he could talk to her about the passport because she was taking too long to deliver it. He said he needed a new passport because he went to Barbados and had overstayed.

The Crown is alleging at the trial in the Home Circuit Court that the accused plotted with others to murder the policewoman because she had arrested and charged Morgan-Carr with possession and attempting to export cocaine.

Richards, who was the main witness, said Morgan-Carr needed someone to murder the policewoman so she would not go to prison. Richards reported the plot to the police and the accused were held on February 25, 2005.