Accused cop killer acquitted by jury

For two years he was an accused cop killer but today one Belize City resident walked out of court a free man. This afternoon a jury of ten women and two men formally acquitted Gregory Martinez in the killing of Police Corporal Benazico Coy. According to court reports the jurors unanimously cleared Martinez of Murder, Manslaughter and Grievous Harm. The defendant had been arrested in December 2005 following the stabbing death of Coy. The police officer had been socializing in an area near Euphrates Avenue when he got into an argument with another man which ended in violence. Coy was rushed to the hospital with injuries to his chest but succumbed to his wounds. During the week long trial, Coy’s son and another officer who was injured in the same incident both identified Martinez as the knifeman but their testimonies did not sway jurors. Martinez was defended by Michael Peyrefitte while Merlene Moody prosecuted.