KINGSTON, Jamaica — After spending 12 years in custody awaiting trial, a jury took less than an hour to return a unanimous verdict of not guilty for murder accused Allando Thompson.

Thompson’s trial concluded on Friday in the Supreme Court. He was charged with the 2012 murder of Lisha Waung, a Chinese national who operated a wholesale in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

The prosecution alleged that Thompson had been hired as a contract killer to murder Waung.

In building its case, the prosecution relied on the testimony of a witness who claimed to have transported Thompson to the location and witnessed the shooting. The witness also stated that he was unaware of Thompson’s intent to commit murder.

However, under cross-examination by Thompson’s lawyer, Peter Champagnie KC, the witness admitted to making several omissions in his written statement to the police.

In his defence, Thompson testified that he had rented a car to the witness and, upon hearing that the car was linked to a shooting, confronted the witness and threatened to report the matter to the authorities. He claimed that, in response, the witness preemptively accused him of being the shooter to avoid being implicated.

Champagnie also pointed out that DNA evidence collected by the police did not connect Thompson to the crime.

Additionally, a defence witness testified that the shooter was not dressed as described by the prosecution’s primary witness.
Thompson was also represented by attorney Samoi Campbell.