Myvett Remanded After Hung Jury in Murder Trial

Daniel Myvett

There is a development tonight in respect of a decision reached on Tuesday night in the trial of Daniel Myvett who is accused with the murder of a Nigerian security guard. And that is that Myvett’s attorney will be contesting the decision by Justice Troadio Gonzalez who ordered a retrial when the jury could not reach a verdict. Attorney Alifah Elrington says the panel of twelve persons did not take the required four hours to deliberate as is required in murder cases so the judge should have allowed them back to deliberate. That did not take place and Myvett was taken back to prison on remand until a date is set for his retrial. Just a week ago, two men, Jamaal Jackson and Talbert Mena walked free when Justice Gonzalez upheld a no case submission in the case against them for the murder of Nigerian Kabiru Olongundudu, a security guard at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza.  Kareem Stevens along with Myvett were also accused of murdering the security guard at midnight on February fifteenth, 2010 at the Biltmore where Myvett also worked as a security guard.  Stevens became the main witness for the crown and later was given immunity for his testimony. According to his statement, the plan was to tie up the security guard and rob the Biltmore. But he was treated as a hostile witness since on the witness stand; he recanted his 2010 statement saying he did not give police evidence which led to the arrest of the others.  But Judge Gonzalez later ruled that he gave the statement willingly and admitted the statement into evidence.  The court also heard that Myvett had a misunderstanding with the security guard and that’s why he took things personal on that night and stabbed the deceased.   The other men were armed with guns but Myvett had a knife with which he allegedly stabbed Olongundudu. The jury, however, is believed to have deliberated for under four hours and Myvett’s attorney will be challenging the decision for a retrial.