Espat Acquitted of Murder

And while Parham will face sentencing for manslaughter, another man was acquitted of murder today before Judge Antoinette Moore. Shajeem Espat had been accused of the brutal murder of sixty-nine year old security guard Julian Lara on March twentieth, 2011. Lara was found behind Spot’s Bar in San Ignacio with his hands and feet tied and stab wounds to his neck and chest. Police discovered him when they were called out to the area on reports of a robbery at that location. The case against Espat was based only on circumstantial evidence. He was in the area when the robbery and murder occurred, and Police found bloodstains on his shirt. Forensic examination then concluded that the blood type was O-positive, the same as that of the murdered security guard. That wasn’t exactly compelling evidence, since O-positive is the most common blood type, and blood can remain on clothing for years.  Espat also claimed that the statement which was given to the Police was not given freely. At two this afternoon, Moore handed down the verdict of not guilty, and Espat would have been free to go. But he couldn’t, since he is currently serving a jail term for another offence.