In January of 2006, brothers Russell and Clifford Hyde were sentenced to 12 years in jail for the slaying of Allyson Castillo outside of a Belmopan nightclub in 2004. Tonight Russell is a free man while his younger brother Clifford is facing more jail time.
This morning the Court of Appeal reversed 38-year-old Russell's conviction and did the exact opposite for 22-year-old Clifford when they added another 3 years to his 12 year sentence. Russell and Clifford were originally charged along with a third brother, Dennis Hyde, and a cousin Delvin Galvez.
In December of 2005, a jury acquitted Dennis Hyde and Galvez but convicted Russell and Clifford of manslaughter. Four defendants and two different verdicts and it is on that technicality that Russell gained his freedom. His attorney Michael Peyrefitte argued that the verdicts were inconsistent and that trial judge Troadio Gonzalez misdirected the jury. The Court of Appeals agreed and quashed Russell's conviction.
After three years in jail, this morning Russell told us he is relieved to be free, and after giving three years to the state, he wants to know what the state has for him.
Russell Hyde, Freed
"I feel good but this should have been done a long time, I don't know why they took it this far for me to get free because from the evidence they had, they could have never found me guilty of that charge.
They've had me locked up for three years and that is not fair. I would hope they would decide to give me a little something because I am a businessman. I hope they would decide and not make me have to think about suing them to let them because three years man, I am a business man - I had my farm, my cattle, my tractor and everything. I lost a lot so I hope those hearing this would try and assist me before I think of having to sue them or do something to make them come up with something. That is all I have to say."
Keith Swift,
You were in prison for three years, that is a lot of time. How do you move on?
Russell Hyde,
"Well I got to move on. I take it to the Lord in prayer."
This morning the Court of Appeal also heard an appeal on the same matter from the Director of Public Prosecution's office. The argument there was that the sentence for the brothers was "unduly lenient." Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Lynn Branker-Taitt represented the DPP's office. Clifford Hyde was represented by Anthony Sylvestre.
