They were busted the night before Halloween of 2004 with masks, guns, and bulletproof vests. And while they could have been preparing to go on some terminal trick or treat adventure, the police say they were preparing instead, to commit murder. But last night a jury disagreed. At 7:45 pm the jury acquitted Sheldon "Pinky" Tillet, Micah Thompson, and Brian Herrera of the rarely heard charge of preparation to commit a murder.
That charge was in addition to a long list of others thrown at the men after they were busted on the night of October 29th of 2004 in a car in the Antelope Street Extension area. In the car police found two Halloween masks, a loaded AK47 assault rifle, a loaded 9-milimeter gun, and a loaded Tec-9 submachine gun in addition to two black hoods, a warm cap, and four white rubber gloves. Police say "Pinky" Tillet was also wearing a bulletproof vest.
The three faced charges of preparing to commit a robbery, two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm and corresponding ammunition and theft because the vehicle was stolen. Thompson faced an extra charge of unlicensed firearm possession for the 9-milimeter gun. In court the trio's defense was simple: they were in the car but the gun, ammunition, and masks belonged to a fourth suspect who fled before the police caught up.
After three hours the jury of 6 men and 3 women returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty for all three defendants on all counts. Thompson was defended by Lutchman Sooknandan while Senior Counsel Ellis Arnold represented "pinky" Tillet and Brian Herrera. Brian Herrera is freed on that charge but still has a double murder charge from last year and is still remanded at the Hattieville Prison.
