By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The matter against a homeless man charged with simple larceny was dismissed for want of prosecution after the complainant and the investigating officer failed to show up for trial in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Devon Malcolm, who was in jail for more than two weeks, as he was unable to take up his $40,000 bail offer, walked free when his case was dismissed.

But he was told that he was free to go after the complainants, the St. James Parish Library, which is stone's throw away from the courthouse, were absent for the second trial date in the matter.

Malcolm was arrested and charged after he allegedly stole an air conditioning condenser valued at $20,000 from the library. He, however, insisted that he was not guilty despite claims that he had led the police to the missing item.

It is alleged that a security guard on duty at the library overheard a certain conversation and went to a section of the compound where persons told him that that the accused had taken the condenser.

A report was subsequently made to the police, and Malcolm was apprehended. He later led the police to the missing item.