Toledo man acquitted of murder; claimed self defense

Fifty year old Alejandro Ical of Forest Home, Punta Gorda, who was charged with murder, was acquitted by a jury of five men and seven women today in Dangriga Supreme Court. The jury deliberated for about three hours. Ical was represented by attorney Antonette Moore and Crown Counsel Nadine Palacio presented the case for the prosecution. The deceased, Barrington Copius, was chopped in his head and face. Jason Ramclam, chief witness for the prosecution, testified that he heard Ical and the deceased arguing but he did not see the chopping. Ical gave the police a caution statement in which Ical admitted he chopped Copius but claimed it was in self defense. He said he and Copius had an argument and that there was a struggle afterwards, during which he managed to take away Copius’ machete and inflict the fatal wounds. Ical gave a statement from the dock in which he said that he was sorry for what he did and he asked the court for mercy.