Trio Acquitted of Murder in Santa Elena Shooting/Robbery

Anthony Dennison

Three men were free of murder charge today when they appeared in Belmopan Supreme Court. Twenty-two year old Anthony Dennison, twenty-four year olds Traevon Williams and Denfield Tasher were acquitted of the 2010 shooting death of businesswoman Zhen Nong Zheng in Santa Elena, Cayo.  In trial, Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez of the D.P.P.’s office relied heavily on caution statements which police claimed incriminated the men. However, the three defense counsels for the accused men argued during a voir dire that the caution statements given by the men were given under duress. The attorneys also told the courts that the men were all physically beaten by police. After seven witnesses were called to the stand, Judge Denis Hanomansingh rejected all caution statements. Hanomansingh then directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict. It was reported that the men entered Zhong’s place of establishment, Alwin’s Restaurant, where they initially posed as customers, but later proceeded to rob the business. Zheng’s murder was witnessed by her husband, Xin Yan Tan, but he could not identify any of the men who were on trial for her murder. Zheng was shot once in the chest area and she died on the spot.