It was the ultimate act of revenge when he admitted to stabbing a bully to death, and this afternoon 19-year-old Oligario Assi was ultimately vindicated when he walked down the steps of the Supreme Court a free man. After deliberating for three hours and twenty-seven minutes, a jury found him not guilty of murder and also acquitted him of manslaughter.
Assi was charged for the August 27th 2004 murder of Nolberto Crawford on Barrier Reef Drive in San Pedro Town. At the time Assi who is from Punta Gorda was working construction in San Pedro. He claims that Crawford always bullied him and on the night of August 27th in 2004, Assi claims that Crawford was beating him and punching him in the face. Assi says he had just about had enough and so he pulled out a knife. He says they struggled for control of the knife and he ended up stabbing Crawford to the heart. In the trial Assi gave a statement from the dock where admitted to the killing but said it was in self-defense.
After his acquittal, the 19-year-old Assi waited outside the courtroom and shook the hand of the 7 men and 5 women who acquitted him. Assi was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Cheryl Lynn Branker-Taitt and defended by Jose Cardona. Justice Adolph Lucas was the presiding judge.
