Trial of Accused Murderer Ervin Reneau Continues in Supreme Court

Ervin Reneau

The murder trial of Ervin Reneau, accused of the November, 2010 murder of two Belize City men, Security Guard Edgar Ayala and David Longsworth is nearing an end. Both were fatally shot and killed during a robbery that turned murder. Ayala was robbed of his firearm, and it is alleged that because Longsworth witnessed the murder, he too was eliminated. The case began on February sixteenth and on Wednesday; the prosecution closed its case after calling thirty-five witnesses to the stand. The trial has dragged on because prosecutor Shanice Lovelle had to call several witnesses to get Reneau’s caution statement admissible into trial. Today, Reneau took the stand to give sworn testimony. His version of events is that while he has been on remand for five years, police has the wrong man. Reneau claims he was at his mother’s house watching news when he heard the murder being reported. But several witnesses have linked him to the double murder including his friend, Egbert Miguel, who testified that he saw when Reneau pull out a gun and shoot the security guard at the gas station. He did not see the other fatal shooting because he and others fled the scene. Other witnesses testified that Reneau then went over to Longsworth’s vehicle and fired at him in front of his wife and children. One of two guns used in the murder, was also linked to Reneau. His then girlfriend, Suzette Marsden, testified in the trial that he had handed her a nine millimetre pistol on the day of the murder. She gave the gun to a cousin, who hid it. The following day, the cousin handed over the gun to then ComPol Crispin Jefferies. The trial is by judge without jury before Justice Adolph Lucas.  The trial continues.