Court of Appeal orders new trial for convicted murderer Kimberly Brannon

The Court of Appeal today ordered a new trial for forty-three year old Kimberly Brannon, also known as Kimberly McLaughlin, and set aside her conviction and sentence of life imprisonment on a charge of murder. Brannon was convicted in November of 2011 for the murder of her common-law husband, Anthony “Antics” Herrera, a race jockey of Burrell Boom, Belize District. Herrera was stabbed to death in his home at the Castleton Race Track in December of 2008. At trial three years later it was revealed that Brannon had traveled all the way to Belize City to confess her alleged involvement to a Police Corporal niece who then alerted authorities. Brannon claimed at trial that she was made certain promises to have her charges reduced and also threatened that if she did not give a certain version of events she would be placed in isolation at the prison. Trial Judge Justice Herbert Lord allowed the confession she gave police but at the appeal which was heard last week the three-judge panel ruled that he did not properly direct the jury in relation to how the statement was to be treated. They said he should have directed the jury that although he had allowed the statement, they were to consider whether the statement was voluntarily given and also whether it was true. Brannon was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre while Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal appeared on behalf of the Crown.