Self-confessed drug dealer and gang member Prince Barrington Edness has been found not guilty of murder.

The 29-year-old passed out in the dock as the jury of six men and six women delivered their unanimous verdict after three hours of deliberation and a two-week trial in the Supreme Court.

Corrections officers had to help him up and escort him from the room.

Before the jury entered the court, Judge Carlise Greaves warned those present to remain quiet and not to “get caught up in any celebration or disappointment”, adding that no one would be allowed to leave until after the jury had been discharged.

Aside from a few women beginning to sob and other members of the public shaking their heads, order largely remained in the courtroom.

But once the jury exited, excited friends and family members spilled out in the lobby of the Dame Lois Browne-Evans building and started cheering.

Other spectators were seen weeping and being comforted as they made their way down the stairs and outside.

Mr Edness had been charged with premeditated murder in connection to the death of Jason Lightbourne, 18, who was shot dead on Ord Road, Paget, in the early hours of July 23, 2006.

The court was told that he carried out the shooting with his friend Akil Williams, who died several weeks after Mr Lightbourne was killed.

Leaving the courtroom, Mr Edness’s lawyer, Marc Daniels, said that he was “extremely pleased” with the verdict.

“It’s moments like this that demonstrate there can be faith in the justice system,” he added. “We were facing an uphill battle dealing with potential prejudice, but the jury did what was required. I feel grateful they took time to consider the evidence.”

Mr Daniels also expressed his deep sympathy for all of the families involved, nothing that “there are no winners in this”.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro said the Bermuda Police Service were “very disappointed by the verdict”.

He added: “Our thoughts are with the family of Jason Lightbourne, who was brutally murdered on July 23, 2006. They have waited eight years to get justice for their son’s murderer and, unfortunately, the jury has spoken against the Crown’s case in this matter.

“We have worked diligently to bring this matter before the courts and put significant resources into ensuring justice in this case, and sadly today we’re here with a verdict of not guilty.

“Bermuda Police Service remains committed to ensuring justice for all Bermudians. We have a compelling record of obtaining convictions in gun and gang murder crimes, in particular, with a record by the DPP [Department of Public Prosecution] of over 75 per cent conviction rate, which is indeed very favourable compared to other jurisdictions.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with the verdict, but we remain committed to ensuring justice for all victims across Bermuda.”

Mr Pedro said it was “very difficult to say” whether the Police expected any retaliation attacks.

“The nature of gang violence is very unpredictable,” he said. “We never know when or where that may occur. Certainly we will put resources into place to ensure all Bermudians are safe in the wake of the verdict.”

Mr Pedro noted that it was “very early to say what would happen with the case from here”, but that Police would consult with the DPP to see how they could proceed regarding Mr Lightbourne’s death. He added that Police were “actively investigating” the death of Akil Williams, who was said to be the man who fired the shots at Mr Lightbourne while the pillion passenger of Mr Edness.

Mr Williams’s body was found on Vesey Street, Devonshire, three weeks after the shooting, the court had heard.

A witness told the jury she saw him being attacked by a group of five men, who beat him in the face with a metal weight and set his dog on fire before dragging him into a car. She said Mr Williams had confessed to her that he had been the gunman, and told the court that he was killed because he had kept hold of the firearm.

The court was told that Mr Lightbourne was in a car with friends when a motorcycle pulled alongside them and a pillion passenger fired into the car, shooting the teenager in the head. The Crown emphasised at the start of the trial that Mr Edness did not have to be the one who pulled the trigger to be guilty of the murder, saying that he could be convicted if it was proved that he aided or assisted the killers. The court was told that Mr Lightbourne’s death was a revenge attack for the stabbing of an associate of Mr Edness and was fuelled by a rivalry between two gangs — one from the Princess Street area of Hamilton, the other from the Ord Road area.

The shooting took place shortly after the stabbing victim was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The mother of the stabbing victim told the court that Mr Edness left the hospital, returning a short while later with Mr Williams on his bike.

Prosecutor Carrington Mahoney alleged the pair shot Mr Lightbourne during this time, citing phone records which he said backed this up.

Mr Edness denied this version of events when took the stand on Tuesday, saying he did not leave the hospital.

He said that Mr Williams must have carried out the shooting before he gave him a ride to visit their injured friend. Mr Edness admitted to the jury that he was a marijuana dealer and a member of a gang, but said he had “always stayed away from beef” with rival groups.

“When it comes to any crew or any gang or posse, it’s always those who get involved in beef, conflicts, then people who deal with business,” he said. “I’ve always stayed away from beef. It’s always been about business, always been about making money.

“I know making money in an illegal way is wrong, but that’s what I done. From a young age, I sold marijuana.”

Mr Daniels had urged the jury not to let Mr Edness’s gang links and confession of drug dealing prejudice them, saying there was only circumstantial evidence against him, but no concrete DNA evidence or eyewitnesses.

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