Accused arsonist freed a second time

A man accused of setting fire to his brother-in-law’s van has been freed for a second time. Emerson Elijio walked out of the Supreme Court last night after a hung jury could not reach a verdict. The trial featured two witnesses: the owner of the van, Ricardo Palma and Elijio’s former girlfriend, Martha Odette Palma. Ricardo testified that he saw Elijio set fire to his Dodge Safari van on the night of December fifth, 2003 in Ladyville. However, his own sister, Martha, who had been living with Elijio, changed her initial testimony to police that she had not been with Elijio on the night in question. She admitted to the court on Thursday that she lied because quote “the police asked her too many questions.” Under oath Martha testified that she and Elijio had gone out to buy fried chicken at six forty-five that evening, the exact time that the vehicle was reported to have caught fire. The five man, four woman jury deliberated for four hours but was unable to arrive at a verdict. This is the second time the case has been tried and the second time that it has ended with a hung jury. Viewers may recall that Martha Odette Palma was in the media spotlight some time ago for injuries, including a broken jaw, that she claimed Elijio inflicted when he beat her with a two by four. The charges were eventually dropped against Elijio when she refused to testify.