Hung jury; retrial necessary in murder case
A jury of twelve had a tough time deciding the fates of brothers, Emory and Maurice Felix, who were on trial for the murder of twenty-nine year old Mitchum Heredia. After four hours of deliberation, the jury first emerged shortly before five o’clock this evening, but were undecided. Justice Herbert Lord sent them back to deliberate further because for a charge of murder, the verdict must be unanimous. One hour later, the jury returned, but still could not reach a decision. The trial ended with a hung jury, which means that the Felix brothers will be tried a second time for the murder. They were first convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007, but a retrial was ordered when they appealed in 2008. The first conviction was sealed by the testimony of main witness, Romel Palacio Junior, Heredia’s friend, who saw when he was shot to death inside his vehicle as he arrived at his T Street apartment on April tenth, 2006. Palacio again testified last Friday that he was shot at, but he ran and hid under a verandah from where he saw the Felix brothers unload their firearms on Heredia. Both brothers testified today; first on the stand was Maurice, who told the court that on April sixth, 2006, he was at home doing laundry all day. He claims that his mother, two nephews and a sister were all there, but he did not call any of them to testify as an alibi witness. Maurice testified that he never left home that day, but he arrested while walking from a Chinese Fast Food restaurant. Emory, on the other hand, claims that he was doing mechanic work with his cousin, Tyrone Felix, who has since been murdered. He says that he left Tyrone’s house with Brandon Taylor at around six-fifteen that evening to go pick up a phone. According to Emory, he and Taylor were on their way back when they were both detained. At the end of the day, the jury still could not decide on a verdict. On June nineteenth, 2011 Palacio’s father, Romel Sr. was murdered inside his home in the Jane Usher Boulevard area. That incident was just days before the trial against the Felix brothers was set to start, and it is believed that the shooter was looking to silence Palacio Junior. The Palacio family moved out of the country in fear for their lives; the case was postponed and started last week.
It seems like those jurors been Living under a rock not to know these Menace commited the crime, A star witness put his life on the line to testify against these brothers after his dad was Mistakely assassinated in his home so the case could have been acquitted. You can clearly see that there alibi is fabricated and the other witness Taylor is a criminal himself. For them to walk is not going to be shocking but more disturbing to know more murderers living in the belizean society.
So, who does the jury believe killed Heredia? Or is he still alive?
Palacio paid a huge price to be a witness here — his father was murdered! Why would he lie after paying such a terrible price to testify?
I wonder whether someone paid a juror off.
Bad system
Why is there a hung jury if a witness saw his friend being murdered and he is bold enough to tell, knowing fully that his life is endangered by speaking out??? I am very dissapointed how even the people who have the power to convict seems to be afraid to do so. Sad state of affairs in Belize. Our country is getting a bad reputation for harboring and allowing crimals to walk free.
First i want to thank the jury for making it possible for the two brothers to have an fare trial. i wish the Felix brother would have fund not guilty. but, we all know that the testemony of the witness was weak. and so the evidence that the court have is not enought to convict the brother. fare is fare. Thank goodness there is a God.
To the family of the victim stay strong
As much as I’m against taking the law into one’s hand,this is an exception. Both of these cockroaches need to be taken off the street (their style). Two less criminals to worry about.
God knows exactly who did it. The ultimate price for those who are responsible is to rot in hell forever and ever. Who is fair? Answer: God is always fair. If murderers can threaten eyewitnesses, the same way they can threaten the jurors.
If had gan da court n hear wat all d witness had 2 say u no he was set up my d police he different statement fair is fair D witness bt d police arrested d brothers didn’t This system is 4 d rich
if he was consistent in wat he was saying a hang jury never wud have arrived. u guys really need to do ur own research and stop listen to gossip. the withness was telling lie. first it was a nite murder den it went to a day. if he was telling the truth he wudnt contradict himself. we cant judge anyone, leave that to the the father, the almighty said only if we are perfect we can judge. surely we arent caz we are all sinners. only he can judge. even thou the brothers have a reputation we stil need to give them their fair chance in the system.