A PROMINENT Hillbrow hotelier and alleged double murderer on Monday walked free after the state withdrew charges against him in the Johannesburg high court following the disappearance of crucial witnesses. Alex Kavouras was facing 10 charges, including two of murder, four of attempted murder, two of pointing a firearm, and one of assault. Kavouras allegedly shot dead two unidentified people during a meeting with his employees at the Safari Hotel in March 1997. State Prosecutor Annemarie van der Colf said most of the witnesses who were set to take the stand were Nigerians or eastern Europeans. Most of them were believed to have worked for Kavouras as they gave his hotels as their addresses.