Murder witness disappears after hung jury in Appeals Court
Emory & Maurice Felix
Thirty-five year old Rommel Palacio junior has been missing since last Thursday. His family members presume he is dead and want information on where his body may be found. There have been previous attempts on Palacio’s life and his disappearance it may have repercussions on an upcoming trial. Palacio has been a key witness in the murder trial against brothers Emory and Maurice Felix, who were convicted in 2007 of murdering Mitchum Heredia. They were sentenced to life in prison, but appealed the case in 2008 and on June twenty-ninth, 2012 a jury could not reach a unanimous decision. Because there was a hung jury, the brothers are awaiting a retrial. It’s a cold reality for the Palacio family who claim the justice system has failed them before. Dawnette Palacio, Romel’s sister told News Five, they believe he has been murdered.
Dawnette Palacio, Sister of Romel Palacio Junior.
“His name is Romel Palacio Jr. and he is thirty-five years old and the report that we received is that last week Thursday, he was on day off and he left his work spot to come to Belize City. I got a call this morning at my work that the rumors on the street is that he was kidnapped, murdered and the body was buried.”
Jose Sanchez
“Your brother, why do you believe that there may be some truth to this rumor?”
Dawnette Palacio
Dawnette Palacio
“Umm, he was the main witness in the murder trial for I believe the person’s name was Mitchum Heredia. About a year and a half ago on father’s day, the trial was coming up and he was supposed to testify again and they tried to kill him, but instead of killing him, my father was killed at the family home on Jane Usher Boulevard. I believe he is dead at this point because they have tried to make numerous attempts to kill him.”
Jose Sanchez
“As a witness, what protection did the D.P.P.’s office or police department provide throughout this time being that he was trying to do his duty?”
Dawnette Palacio
“Well, umm, they did try, because he was from different locations to different locations until he end up at the last work place that he worked. I don’t want to disclose where he was working because a police investigation was ongoing at this moment.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now if anyone; if your brother is alive and anyone knows anything about his whereabouts—good or bad—how can they reach a family or the police? Do you have a contact number?”
Dawnette Palacio
“Okay well they can contact me. My number is 623-2048.”
On Father’s Day, June nineteenth, 2011, gunmen invaded the family home looking for Palacio Junior, but they found his father in the bathroom and shot him multiple times on the head, hands and leg. Ashton Anderson and Christopher Sosa have been charged for that murder and the case comes up in the January 2013 Session of the Supreme Court. Once again, if you have seen Palacio Junior or know anything about his whereabouts please call 6232048.
Come out of hiding and answer questions about these murders, John Saldivar.
You can’t or won’t do your job to secure our people, so please, please resign! It will be a good Christmas gift for the victims in the Jewel.
You preside over a 3% conviction rate in murders — and close to 0% where professional gangsters are accused. That is utter failure, and YOU are responsible for the failing system. Aren’t you ashamed to look yourself in the mirror?
Another total failure of this gov.
It is rotten shame that they do not even have a decent witness protection program in the jewel. How many witnesses have changed their testimony, refused to testify or disappeared/killed before this in competent Government will put in place a decent witness protection plan. There is a need to get a new commisioner of police and minister of police.
Trying not to do any writing for write here so:
Unless the all parties concern develop a Witness Protection Plan, Heads of Government of Belize invest in executing that Plan, they are the culprits of innocent lives gone just like this One, i am sorry to see what this family has gone trough. Really sad and Shame on the Justice System and all of those that are eating from the Taxes of the victims! I am getting angry a bit.