THE prosecution was on Monday forced to drop one of the two murder charges against deportee, Omar Lewis because of the failure of witnesses to come forward.

Lewis is accused of last July’s murders of Lisa Longshaw and Jerome McLennon. It was the charge against him for Longshaw’s murder that has been dropped because the witnesses have left the island for England.

Lewis, 25, reportedly went to a house on King Street in Montego Bay last July and opened fire on the occupants of the house, hitting Longshaw in the right breast. He died on the spot.

It has also been alleged that at about 9:50 on the night of Longshaw’s killing, Lewis and the occupants of a white motor car drove to Farm Heights where they opened fire on a group of men sitting at a shop in the area. McLennon was shot dead while two others were injured.

In June, Lewis was arrested and charged with the murders of the two men, after he was reportedly deported from the United States.

The reason for his deportation was, however, not clear.

When he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court Wednesday, Lewis and his attorney Victor Robinson appeared mildly annoyed and a little surprised that both charges had not been dropped.

Robinson indicated to the court that they would await September 24, the next mention date, to make an application for bail. At that time, a passport forgery matter against Lewis is also expected to be heard.