A jury acquitted Raheem McBride yesterday after finding that he acted in self-defense when he disemboweled and killed an attacker. Prosecutors tried McBride, 19, for murder in the September 13, 2010 death of Arah Brown, who was also known as Ray, at Murphy Town, Abaco.

However, the prosecution's own witnesses confirmed McBride's contention that Brown attacked him with a piece of wood without any provocation. After the wood broke, Brown took a knife from his waist and swung at McBride, the court heard.

McBride got the knife after it fell to the ground and Brown ran away, according to the evidence. Witnesses said that McBride pursued him and they later saw Brown holding his stomach. Pathologist Dr. Caryn Sands said the four-inch deep wound exposed the victim's intestines.

In his statement to police, McBride said that Brown had taunted him on September 12, saying that he could not fight. He told police that Brown pulled a gun on him when no one was around.  McBride alleged that this was not the first time Brown brandished a gun at him.

Brown's relatives had to be restrained from rushing McBride as police escorted him from the courtroom. Police ushered McBride and his stepfather into the police station for their safety.

Justice Vera Watkins presided over the trial. V. Alfred Gray represented McBride and Linda Evans appeared for the Crown.

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