Burglary and stolen goods case flops in court

Lloyd Parchue

Two Belize City men, who appeared before Justice Adolph Lucas, were acquitted this morning for the offenses of conspiracy to commit burglary and handling stolen goods. They are twenty year old Lloyd Parchue, who is presently on remand for burglary and twenty-two year old Wayne Herrera. Police stated that on July seventh 2012, the house of Mark Mitchell was burglarized.  On that same day, Parchue was caught in possession of stolen items from Mitchell’s house and as a result was charged for handling stolen goods while Herrera was charged with burglary and handling stolen goods.  A statement given by witness, Ernie Miranda was thrown out. Police claimed Miranda gave a statement that Herrera had brought a computer monitor belonging to Mitchell to his house and left it there; but in the trial Miranda said that he had given the statement under pressure by police.

Wayne Herrera

Miranda also claimed that the police wrote the statement and forced him to sign it. Officers then admitted that Herrera was never found in possession of the stolen items and their arrest was based solely on Miranda’s statement.  At the end of the trial, Magistrate Lucas stated that the prosecution could not prove their case and the men were freed of the charges. Herrera was released today while Parchue is remains on remand for alleged involvement in the burglary of Phillip Garbutt’s house in Hattieville.