Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Murder accused Paul Newman was freed in the Mandeville Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday after a post-mortem revealed that he did not cause the death of a senior citizen.

Newman, a 43-year-old barber of Mandeville, was answering to the charge of murder. He was charged for the offence following the death of 86-year-old Enos Tapper also of Mandeville, Manchester.

The Crown called three witnesses including government pathologist Dr Collette Hall. Dr Hall testified that Tapper's death was not caused by blows from Newman. She testified that the senior citizen's death was caused by a condition known as emphysematous which is caused by smoking. She said there were no signs of physical external or internal injuries on the deceased.

Attorney-at-Law Danielle Archer then made a successful bail application on behalf of Newman.

Resident Magistrate Yvonne Brown then ordered that the accused be freed.

The Crown led evidence that on August 20, 2009, the deceased and the accused had a dispute during which Newman who had a fractured limb, used a crutch to hit Tapper.

On September 29, Tapper died and the accused was charged with murder by Detective Constable Donnette King.

The prosecution was led by Queen's Council Velma Hylton who acted as a fiat for the Crown.