Man acquitted for murder after 5 years on remand

Lincoln Sabido

A man who has spent the last five years on remand for a 2008 murder will not go back to the Belize Central prison tonight. Twenty-eight year old Lincoln Sabido, a resident of Berry Street was accused of the first murder in 2008 when Norman “Mimi” Reyes, was fatally shot once to the neck. Sabido smiled his way to freedom this morning when a no-case submission was upheld by Judge, Troadio Gonzalez. There was no evidence to properly convict Sabido because of discrepancies and inconsistencies in the statement of the main witness, Dennis Nembhard, who is now deceased. Nembhard said in a statement that he saw Reyes fall to the ground, when he was shot, and that he saw Sabido run from the area. In his no-case submission to the court, attorney Anthony Sylvester submitted that the witness could not have seen Sabido commit the murder because it was impossible for him to see anything from the location he stood in relation to where Reyes was shot. Sylvester also pointed out that there were contradictions between the crime report and Nembhard’s statement.  The jury was then directed to acquit Sabido of murder. Reyes, who lived on Moya Street, was inside his apartment when he was shot. He managed to run but fell at the corner of Berry and Moya Streets where he died. The trial of Sabido began in mid-May.  In his defense, Sabido told the court that he was at home with his mother when Reyes was killed. He said he heard the shots but had no idea who had pulled the trigger. He also called his mother to testify on his behalf and she corroborated his testimony.  Prosecutors in the case were Sheneiza Smith who was assisted by Senior Crown Counsel, Cecil Ramirez.