3rd retrial for Jamie Dawson

Jamie Dawson

In the courts, Belize City resident, Jamie Dawson, is being tried for a third time for the December 2002 murder of Maurice Neal. The retrial was to start two weeks ago before Justice Herbert Lord, but the indictment could be read because his Attorney Anthony Sylvester filed an application, citing abuse of process in Dawson’s case. That’s because he was first convicted of murder in 2004, but he appealed and his second trial ended in a hung jury in 2006; that’s six years before the current trial was called. The DPP’s representative, Christophe Rodriguez submitted to the court that application should be raised after the trial has started when Dawson’s fate has been placed in the hands of a jury. It is Sylvester’s view, however, that reading the indictment for murder before the application is heard would contribute to the abuse of process against his client. Judge Lord accepted Sylvester’s submission and the application will be heard on April twentieth. Dawson has been fighting the murder charge for almost ten years. Neal was killed on December seventh, 2002 at Bismark Club in the Yarborough area. A group of men reportedly showed up on bicycles and opened fire into the crowded club. Neal was one of two persons who were injured in hail of bullets. He was shot multiple times to the body and died on the spot.