After deliberating for five hours, a jury failed to return a verdict against murder accused Gabriel Daniel in the San Fernando High Court on Thursday. Justice Mark Mohammed ordered a re-trial after the foreman of the jury indicated at around 6.50 pm that they were unable to agree on a verdict. The foreman said the jury would not be able to reach a unanimous verdict even if given additional time. Daniel, 28, also known as "Fries," will be facing his third trial having been freed in 2006 by a High Court judge who upheld a no-case submission and acquitted him.
The State, however, appealed and re-trial was ordered. Daniel is charged with the murder of Lincoln "Tappa" Teasdale, 41, in 2003. The State, led by Tricia Hudlin-Cooper, alleged that on July 23, 2003, Daniel stabbed Teasdale on the left side of his chest at the corner of Mandingo and Teasdale Road, Princes Town.
Teasdale died a few days later at San Fernando General Hospital. Daniel's defence was that Teasdale attacked him and then fell to the ground. Daniel, who was represented by attorney El Farouk Hosein, denied that he stabbed Teasdale.
