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FIVE men who were accused of a double murder in Laventille a decade ago walked free yesterday after the State offered no evidence when their trial opened before a High Court judge in Port of Spain.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Trevor Jones at the Hall of Justice, where Olatunji Denbow, Michael Findlay, Kyle Belgrave, Seon Barnswell and Kelon Maxine were all found not guilty on two counts of murder, as well as charges of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The men had been arraigned earlier in the day in a judge-alone trial, and each pleaded not guilty to all counts. However, shortly after the pleas were taken, State attorneys Solange Devenish and Tammy Cato informed the court that, on instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), no evidence would be led against any of the accused.