New trial for accused in double homicide of Brannon brothers

In a stunning development, two notorious figures will be retried for the cold blooded murder of the Brannon brothers. In late 2008 the two accused businessmen of north side Belize City walked free from the double murder of twenty eight year old Phillip, and thirty-two year old Kevin Brannon. Both men were shot and killed on May fourteenth, 2006. The homicides made the headlines for more than two years and when the case went to trial, it ended with a nolle prosequi submission by the Director of Public Prosecution. A key witness was unable to testify because of a medical condition. Last Friday August twenty-eight, both men were served with a Supreme Court subpoena. That was confirmed today by the D.P.P., Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt who says that the witness, Fitzroy Yearwood, a police constable at the time, is now physically fit to take to the stand. The subpoena for Bennett and Kee orders them to appear in the Belize City Supreme Court on October sixth when it is expected that they will jointly be charged again with the double murder. Branker-Taitt said that it would be up to the police to decide whether or not to remand the men to the prison once again. Phillip and Kevin were ambushed and shot just as they approached their mother’s home on Albert Street West. The trial of Bennett and Kee went before the Belmopan Supreme Court where Branker-Taitt prosecuted the case and called a number of witnesses, including Marcia Bailey who had already identified Kee as one of the gunmen. The defense attorney raised questions about Bailey’s credibility on the stand. Today the D.P.P. said she expected both accused men to show up for their arraignment.