Two men accused of murder in 2004 are out of prison and free tonight – because their accusers did not testify against them. In 2004, 22 year old San Ignacio resident Hershel Brown was killed when his throat was slit in front of the town market. Police gathered evidence leading to the arrest of Pedro Guzman Jr. and Henry Baptist. But in court the three men who were supposed to testify against them either couldn’t remember what they had seen or disclaimed the sworn statements they gave police.
And while you’ve heard about amnesia on the stand before, Dean Brackett the only witness who actually appeared in court, testified that he couldn’t even remember something that happened two weeks ago, much less four years. And he told the court that’s because he takes valproic acid for seizures. He was the last hope of the three witnesses and with that prosecutors waved the white flag and the charge of murder was withdrawn against the two men who were free to go after spending the past 4 years on remand.
Guzman Jr. and Henry Baptist were represented by Michael Peyrefitte while Tracy Sosa and Merlene Moody represented the office of the DPP.
