A dramatic turning point unfolded in a High Court murder trial this week, when 25-year-old James Lyson Cacho abruptly reversed his initial not guilty plea after prosecutors presented conclusive surveillance footage capturing the 2023 fatal attack. The killing of 23-year-old Jordan Waight occurred in broad daylight on Barbara Harris Street back in November 2023, and the graphic video evidence proved to be irrefutable for the defendant ahead of a full jury verdict.
By the time prosecutors introduced the footage, they had already called two critical expert witnesses to the stand: a certified Scenes of Crime technician and a police department information technology specialist, who both authenticated the video’s authenticity and chain of custody. Immediately after the recording finished playing in the courtroom, Cacho formally changed his plea to guilty, cutting short the proceedings and eliminating the need for the Crown prosecution to call its remaining scheduled witnesses.
Presiding Justice Candace Nanton formally accepted Cacho’s guilty plea and scheduled the sentencing hearing for June 15, 2026. Cacho is currently represented by defense attorney Ian Gray throughout the legal process. This report is adapted from a broadcast evening news transcript, with translated Kriol language segments formatted using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.