Sentencing of Sears delayed until Thursday

In court news, convicted murderer Hillaire Sears will have to wait a little longer to learn his fate. That’s because his attorney, Lutchman Sooknandan, today asked for an adjournment until Thursday to present his mitigation plea. Sooknandan plans to use several people to testify as to Sears’ character prior to the murder for which he was convicted. Prosecutor Oswald Twist will be seeking the death penalty. Trial Judge, Christopher Blackman, agreed to the adjournment and will pass sentence after the presentations are made. Twenty-five year old Hillaire Sears was found guilty on Friday of the murder of Rodwell Neal. The incident occurred at Neal’s Kraal Road home on the morning of March eighteenth, 2001.

Justice Blackman also ordered that the editor and or reporter responsible for the story’s headline in the last issue of the Belize Times appear in court on Thursday. This is because the headline titled, “Sears to Hang” is inaccurate and pre-empts the sentencing due to be passed on Thursday.

In other court news, Brian Armstrong was today sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for manslaughter. Armstrong, who was originally charged with the murder of David Ramirez, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge. The incident occurred on September twenty-seventh, 2001.

Another murder trial, also in Justice Blackman’s courtroom, is set to begin on Tuesday. Calbert Smith is charged with the October fourth, 2001 murder of Kenneth Smith.