A Carapo man charged with the murder of an Arouca businessman in 2021 has been formally discharged by the High Court because the prosecution failed to present evidence.

Renaldo Thomas, who was arrested on March 29, 2021, and charged on April 12 that year, appeared before Master Sarah De Silva at the High Court on June 6.

His case, which was initially heard at the Arima Magistrates’ Court before being transferred to the High Court under the Administration of Justice (Preliminary Inquiries) Act (AJIPA), had been stalled repeatedly due to the State’s non-compliance with disclosure requirements.