Of four teenagers accused of murdering Alex Innes last November, three were found not guilty of all charges.
Judge Ian Pringle KC had directed the jury that they could only convict Michael Oluyitan, Bradley Morton and Keyarno Johnson-Allen of murder or manslaughter if they were sure that – individually – the men had ‘intentionally assisted or encouraged’ the man who stabbed 25-year-old Mr Innes.
They would be guilty of murder only if they had intended, by assisting the stabber, that the victim would be stabbed or seriously injured.
And they would be guilty of the alternative, lesser charge of manslaughter if they had intended that Mr Innes was caused ‘some harm’.
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The panel of 12 jurors who spent a month hearing the evidence in the case decided, after three days’ deliberations, that they could not be sure.
They acquitted all three of Greg Muinami’s co-defendants of murder, manslaughter and possession of bladed articles.
It followed weeks of pouring over CCTV footage showing the run up to the stabbing on the corner of Walton Street and Walton Crescent in Jericho, the stabbing itself and the defendants’ actions after the assault.
In the grainy footage, the trio could be seen chasing off Mr Innes, who after being stabbed had gone back to the terrace of Love Jericho cocktail bar while clutching his chest, then returned to the group armed with a glass in his hand.
Michael Oluyitan, who was the only defendant to give evidence, told the jury he had thrown a punch at Mr Innes as he chased after him. He feared the older man was about to ‘bottle’ someone.
Morton and Johnson-Allen each gave prepared statements when they were interviewed by detectives following their arrests within hours of the stabbing on November 13 last year.
Bradley Morton told cops that Mr Innes had ‘charged’ at them with a glass. “I just wanted Alex to go,” he said.
Keyarno Johnson-Allen claimed to have been among those helping provide first aid to the stricken Mr Innes.
While Morton and Oluyitan were told they would be free to go once the not guilty verdicts came in, Johnson-Allen remains in custody on an unrelated matter.
The man prosecutors said was the stabber, Greg 'Gino' Muinami, 19, was convicted of murder. He will be sentenced next month.
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