On Friday's newscast, we told you about the 3 men who were acquitted of the murder of 18 year-old Raylene Dyer, who was beheaded and dumped into a river, reportedly in a plot to steal her baby. Since the acquittal of the men, the alleged mastermind, 21 year-old Aracelly Cahueque has been on trial in the Belmopan Supreme Court since last week.
As we told you, her attorney, Dickey Bradley, is challenging the caution statement she allegedly gave to police which Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez will attempt to tie her to the murder of Dyer because she wanted her baby, Reyven Dyer, who was only 3 months old at the time. The crown intends to show that she contracted help to Dyer and get control of the baby.
Bradley made his challenge today of that statement in a trial within a trial. It went to completion, but because the jury is not privy to this evidence we cannot reveal on what basis the defense is trying to get it thrown out.
After today's almost 5 hours of arguments from Bradley and Ramirez, the decision as to whether this statement is admitted is evidence is in the hands of Justice Denis Hanomansingh. Late this afternoon, after the hearing, the media spoke to Bradley in general terms about how his client's case went today. Being cautious to avoid prejudice to the case, here's what Bradley told us:
Dickie Bradley, attorney
"What I can tell you is that a jury of 9 persons have been selected, the forelady of the jury is a female, the question of the trial has started once the accused person is put in the hands of the jury and the jury is returning to the court this week, tomorrow and so the question will be whether a decision has been reached in the Voir dire or there is a need for more time to go over the submissions. If the submissions of one side are accepted then the jury will be asked to do certain things. If the submissions of the other side are accepted, then the jury will be asked to do a different thing. And so, hopefully is God is willing tomorrow we will know whether the Voir dire continues in the sense that a decision has not been reached or a decision has been reached."
"I don't even know I can tell you this, but in the issue of the Voir dire the crown has presented 4 witnesses and their duty is to satisfy a court that in recording statements or in any kind of oral admission that it was obtained in accordance with the law."
Justice Hanomansingh has promised to try to deliver his decision on the trial within a trial. If he decides in the favour of the defence, and refuses to admit the caution statement as evidence in the trial, it is likely that Cahueque will be acquitted of 3 counts of abetment to murder. If he admits the statement as evidence, then the case will continue where the prosecution will be allowed to make a pull presentation of evidence before the jury. She will then have to put forward a defence for the jury to consider.
