Elmer Nah’s P.I. Adjourned Until December 15th
Elmer Nah
The preliminary inquiry in the case of accused murderer, former police corporal, Elmer Nah, was deferred to December fifteenth. While the media was not allowed to enter the courtroom of Magistrate Juliet Johnson-Clarke, a relative of the three deceased persons briefed the reporters who were present on the reason for the deferral. Dion Pascascio told us that delays in the pursuit of justice always have an effect on the families of Jon, David and Vivian Ramnarace, who were shot and killed last New Year’s Eve night. News Five’s Marion Ali was outside the courtroom in Belmopan for the adjournment and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Elmer Nah, the former Police Corporal who is charged with the murders of brothers, Jon and David Ramnarace and Jon’s wife, Vivian Belisle-Ramnarace, will have to wait until December fifteenth to hear whether his case will be committed for trial in the High Court. Today, the preliminary inquiry that would have determined that eventuality was deferred until December fifteenth. Our understanding is that Terrence Williams, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, was on his way to Belize for the P.I., but a family member had a medical emergency and he had to return to Jamaica, where he lives.
Upon his arrival outside the courthouse, a member of the Ramnarace family who had gathered outside the court building called out for justice for her three deceased relatives, as Nah insisted that the gunman captured on surveillance video running into the yard and shooting the family was not him. The Ramnarace family delegated Dion Pascascio to speak with the media. He explained the reason for the adjournment and said delays always have an effect on them.
Dion Pascascio
Dion Pascascio, Relative, Vivian Belisle-Ramnarace
“The last time when we were here, they had appointed a special prosecutor from out of Jamaica and so he was coming for the court date today and he had a family emergency, and he was already en route to Belize. He was in Miami we were made to understand, when he got the phone call of a serious nature involving a family member and so he had to return to Jamaica. So the new date set is for the 15th of December. We’re here and everybody is looking forward to see this case move forward. We want to see it get past this stage first, for us to get to the point where it is sent to the Supreme Court and for the actual trial to begin. Right now this is just prolonging all the anxieties and everything, so it’s taking a toll on the family where that is concerned.”
Pascascio says that coping with such a loss has been hard for the families.
Dion Pascascio
“It’s been extremely difficult for all family members, especially the Ramnarace brothers. I know it’s been difficult on them, and for us, the loss of Vivian and because of the fact that the brothers were very close to the family as well, and there’s that daily reminder of a five-year-old child who’s left without both parents and going through daily routines with school and everything and the grandparents and other family members having to take up that slack.”
As the time draws nearer to New Year’s Eve, Pascascio says that the Belisle and Ramnarace families are anxious about the one-year anniversary of the deaths of their loved ones. It conjures terrible memories of what happened at their residence in Belmopan.
Dion Pascascio
“As a family we’re dreading that 31st of December. We’ll be spending some time together in memory of them and everything, but you know, it’s going to be a difficult time for the family.”
Both families have retained the services of attorney, Arthur Saldivar to give them legal advice as the case progresses. Saldivar, however, was out of the country for today’s adjournment. Marion Ali for News Five.
