2 men see SC slaying charges dropped 15 mos. later

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Two men jailed for more than a year in a deadly nightclub shooting on Edisto Island are back home after prosecutors dismissed the charges against them.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Saturday (http://bit.ly/qU8EBD ) that prosecutors dropped charges against 22-year-old Craig Brown and 30-year-old Arthur Lee Moultrie. Officials say the statements of alibi witnesses and other evidence raised strong doubts about their role in the killing of 29-year-old Kavares Brown in June 2010.

A witness told investigators last year that the victim and others were standing in front the nightclub when a car pulled up and several people got out with guns. The crowd scattered and shots rang out.

Sheriff’s officials said detectives were hampered in their investigation because witnesses wouldn’t talk. Chief Deputy John Clark said of 16 potential witnesses, only three agreed to speak with investigators and two of those gave conflicting statements, .

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com