The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has initiated an expanded appeal following the controversial directed acquittal of two defendants in the 2017 homicide case of eight-year-old Eugene Woodside Jr. This legal maneuver comes as a response to both the judge’s refusal to consider anonymous witness testimony and the unexpected dismissal of charges against Lloyd Minnis and Perry Pickering.
Kendra Woodside, the victim’s mother, characterized the prosecution’s appeal as a positive development while simultaneously expressing profound distress over her exclusion from the judicial proceedings. Despite acknowledging the procedural advancement, Woodside emphasized that she remains far from experiencing any sense of closure or happiness regarding the matter.
Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Fraizer confirmed the filing of an amended appeal last Friday, broadening the scope of the initial legal challenge that previously focused exclusively on the anonymity issue. The appeal is scheduled for hearing before the Court of Appeal on December 17.
The case took an unexpected turn when the trial commenced and concluded without Woodside’s knowledge, despite previous assurances that proceedings wouldn’t begin before 2026. Prosecutors presented neither opening statements nor witness testimony, resulting in the immediate acquittal of both defendants.
The tragic incident dates back to 2017 when young Eugene was fatally struck by a stray bullet while completing homework assignments in the family’s Chippingham residence. The shooting, which occurred as Woodside—pregnant at the time—cradled her dying son, triggered nationwide outrage and profound personal trauma that ultimately fractured the family structure, affecting both her daughter who witnessed the event and her marriage.