Not Guilty! Men free of San Pedro Double Murder charge

Gabriel Salazar

At about five thirty this evening, a verdict was delivered in the case of four men charged for the double murder of James Swan Junior and Edwardo Gutierrez back in January 2009. The jury of twelve returned a verdict of not guilty for Murder and Manslaughter against Brionne Swift, Victor Garnett, Frank Edwards Junior and Gabriel Salazar. Deliberations began at twelve-thirty and concluded at five-thirty and the jury was not swayed by the prosecution’s main witness, Eric Swan, James’ brother, who testified last week.

Frank Edwards Jr.

Swan never saw the men shoot the two victims but only heard the shots and claims he was held hostage while they were murdered. The murders occurred in the Rocky Point, Bacalar Chico area, fifteen miles from San Pedro Town and the bodies were later found in a shallow grave. The homicides were allegedly motivated by a cocaine wet drop. Two of the four accused men gave sworn testimonies while the other two gave dock statements; all claiming that Eric fabricated the story. Garnett and Swift, who spoke from the dock, both said they were not at the crime scene. Garnett claims he was in Belize City while Swift said he was on the island but at home. Salazar and Edwards, Eric’s cousins, also claimed they were not a part of the murder. The jury found the four not guilty and Judge Herbert Lord dismissed them, except for Salazar who has a pending matter before the court.