Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A man charged in connection with theft of 70 toilet bowls two years ago was freed in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday. He is Andrew McFarlane of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

When the case was mentioned, attorney-at-law Vincent Wellesley told the court that there were discrepancies in the Crown's case. He cited precedence that convinced the court that no case has been made out against his client.

Wellesley said the man from whom the police collected a statement is a co-accused who did so under duress. The lawyer said the witness is not a credible one and that the Crown could not rely on such a person's statement.

He presented facts from the case, 'Dennis Lobban versus the Privy Council', which showed that an inculpatory statement is not admissible.

Resident Magistrate Vaughn Smith accepted the submission made by the lawyer and freed McFarlane.

In April 2012, McFarlane was charged with simple larceny after the complainant reported the theft of his items valued $390,000. Police intercepted a truck laden with the toilet bowls which were stolen from a storage facility in St Catherine.

He was one of four persons charged with simple larceny. The others are to be tried in March next year.