Man testifies to witnessing rape and murder

In court news, the murder trial of two Belize City men continued today in the Supreme Court with submissions on their behalf. Lindsdale Franklin and Ryan Herrera are accused of the gruesome murder of Punta Gorda woman, Cruz Sho. Herrera, who is represented by Attorney Ellis Arnold, chose to give an unsworn statement from the dock. Herrera alleged that Ervin Franklin, who was the crown’s main witness, was responsible for the heinous crime. Ervin, who was also a suspect in the incident, agreed to become a Crown witness in the case for immunity. He told the court that he watched from the door of the house when the men raped and killed Sho. But even while he and Herrera gave conflicting accounts, Lindsale Franklin, also in an unsworn testimony today, denied ever being along with his nephew on the day of the murder. The trial is expected to conclude on Friday after Justice Michelle Arana sums up the evidence. Cruz Sho was stabbed multiple times to the abdomen and her throat slashed during a home invasion while at the residence of her common-law-husband, Eldon Chiac, in Lord’s Bank area, Ladyville. The incident occurred in March of 2007.