Danny Mason Returns to Supreme Court in Belize City for Murder Trial

When we last reported on the murder trial of William “Danny” Mason and his co-accomplices, it was from the Belmopan courts. Today, the trial was transferred to Belize City with Justice Antoinette Moore presiding. The trial of started with a Scenes of Crime technician taking the stand to provide testimony under oath.  The hearing commenced shortly after nine o’clock this morning and concluded around five-thirty this evening.  From the witness stand the technician, who has been working in that area of evidence gathering for the past twelve years, recounted the events surrounding the discovery of a severed human head inside a crocus sack stuffed inside a pigtail bucket.  The discovery was made in the parking lot of El Rancho Bar in Belmopan in July 2016, inside the pan of a black Ford F-150 pickup truck belonging to Mason.  As it turns out, the decapitated head was that of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas who had been reportedly abducted from Mason‘s home on Intelco Hill.  From the dock this afternoon, the technician presented evidence in the form of articles of clothing, as well as other items retrieved from the suspects.  On adjournment, attorney Bryan Neal shared with the media a few concerns following the testimony provided by the key witness earlier.

Reporter

“We’ve heard testimony from one of the main forensic witnesses for the prosecution.  For you personally, do you intend to challenge any of the evidence that the gentleman has provided for the court?”

Bryan Neal

Bryan Neal, Attorney

“There are some discrepancies that are open to challenge.  I will decide tonight what my strategy is in respect of my client.”

Reporter

“Does any of the evidence directly affect your client as far as you are aware?”

Bryan Neal

“In a sense, yes.  But I have to look at it to determine what way it does.  There are some discrepancies that I see in how the evidence was collected.”

Reporter

“Sir, are you able to speak about what next can be expected until the end of the trial?”

Bryan Neal

“Until the end of the trial, more exhibits will be brought before the court.  There will be some forensic material.  They are saying that they collected swabs from clothing and sent it to the F.B.I. in the United States, so they will need evidence from people in the United States connected to the testing of the swabs that were collected and sent to the F.B.I.”

Isani Cayetano

“Has the court indicated that it is imperative for the remainder of the trial to be done here in Belize City or does it go back to Belmopan?”

Bryan Neal

“It should go back to Belmopan.  I was just discussing with the D.P.P., I, for one, would prefer it to be in Belize City, far more convenient.  But that is not a decision for me, but hopefully it would be in Belize City.”

Reporter

“And in terms of the evidence that you now are looking at and hearing discussed in court, is that completely new or were you able to go through some of the same things from what was presented from the previous trial?”

Bryan Neal

“We just got another piece of additional evidence.  It seems that they are just giving us evidence after evidence after pieces of evidence.  So to answer your question, we are continuously getting more and more material in this case.”

Reporter

“Is that surprising to you, unexpected?”

Bryan Neal

“Shocking, very shocking.  I thought they had done their investigation and everything was ready to go by now.  So I hope there is nothing else.”