(This story appeared in yesterday's Observer with the incorrect headline. We regret the error)

Spanish Town labourer Arthur Patterson was on Tuesday acquitted of murdering Douglas Lynch, the son of People's National Party councillor Errol Lynch, in what the police said was a dispute between Spanish Town's notorious One Order and Klans Man gangs that spilled over into Waterford, St Catherine four years ago.

Following a week of testimony, jurors deliberated for just over an hour before returning the not guilty verdict for Patterson, who was represented by attorneys Glen Cruickshank and Michael Dean.

Allegations were that on April 6, 2004, around 9:30 pm, a police corporal was on Manhurtz Road in Waterford when he heard explosions and saw the accused and another man with guns in hand, and two persons - Lynch and Christopher Duncan - lying on the ground near a bar at the popular Lynch Man corner.

The men, at that time, escaped, but Patterson turned himself in to the police on April 24 of that year and was later charged with the murder of the two men, following an identification parade.

The murder of Duncan was not put to the jurors, as no witness came forward to give evidence that Duncan's body was actually on the murder scene, even though they had given numerous statements to the police.
Patterson's defence was that he was not at the scene of the crime.

Shaggy & Friends take a bow

Two-day Gathering of the Peacemaker in Negril

Patrons rang in the New Year with gusto at 11:59