Convicted Murderer Escapes from Court; Recaptured Near Market

Shane Bennett

A man who was convicted this morning of the murder of another in the Southern Session of the Supreme Court had other things on his mind than appealing the decision. At the news that Justice Antoinette Moore had found him guilty, forty-year-old Shane Bennett wasted no time and took off from the dock where he was standing, passed a police officer who was standing guard, and out of the courtroom with Corporal Gregory Cayetano in hot pursuit. Cayetano apprehended Bennett in the vicinity of the Dangriga market, but the prisoner resisted and during a struggle, injured the policeman on his mouth. Bennett will now likely be charged with wounding and escape, charges that could extend the length of time the judge will hand down when sentencing takes place on June twenty-fourth. Bennett was on trial for the January twenty-second, 2020 shooting murder of Anthony Parks at his house. He was hospitalized in critical condition until his death a few days later on February second. Parks was inside his house on Toucan Avenue in Independence Village, Stann Creek at the time when he heard someone outside calling out for him. When he went to check who it was, Bennett, who was reported to be his friend, opened fire on him.