He claims he was drunk when he senselessly chopped a 76-year-old man to death with a machete, but this evening a jury told Harvey Lee Henderson that intoxication is no excuse for murder. They could have chosen manslaughter but instead the jury of 7 females and 5 males voted unanimously to convict Henderson for the murder of Alfonso Esperidion Santos.
In January of 2004 Santos was riding his BMX bicycle in Corozal Town when a gang of three men attacked him. The crime was brutal as police say the elderly man was chopped numerous times in his head and body and his skull was split open. Henderson, who was originally charged along with two brothers, never took the stand in his own defense. Instead, he gave an unsworn statement from the dock. Henderson will be sentenced tomorrow morning. Crown counsel Audrey Matura who is prosecuting told the court she will not ask for the death penalty. Henderson's attorney is Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson.
