The trial of a man charged with the murder of his former common-law wife took a dramatic turn yesterday when the director of public prosecutions (DPP) stopped the matter after the defence had closed its case.

The case was stopped after Supreme Court Judge Almarie Sinclair Haynes indicated that she was going to reconsider a no-case submission which was made last week.

Prosecutor Maxine Jackson was not called upon to respond to the submissions when they were made.

This has resulted in 36-year-old labourer Warren McFarlane of Freeman Lane, Kingston 13, having to face a new trial.

He is to return to the Home Circuit Court on March 20 when the case will be mentioned.

The Crown had closed its case a week ago. The defence closed its case yesterday and defence lawyer Donald Bryan began to address the jury.

When Bryan and prosecutor Jackson returned to court yesterday, they were called into the judge's chambers.

Following the disclosure in chambers, the DPP was consulted and when court resumed, the court was told the DPP had entered a nolle prosequi, stopping the trial.

Injustice

Bryan has described the move as an injustice to his client.

DPP Paula Llewellyn, QC, when contacted yesterday, said "it was a very unusual step that I was forced to take in the particular circumstances, but my duty to the public's interest would have had it no other way".

The prosecutor had opposed bail on the grounds that McFarlane had been on the run for the last three years.