A Belize City man got off a murder charge today. In 2017, 21 year old Elden Flowers was charged with the 2017 murder of 19 year old Randolph Johnson. He and some friends were fishing in a lagoon at mile 2 and a half on George Price Highway when a lone gunman fired several shots at them. Johnson received 3 gunshot injuries to his body. He died on the spot.
In a trial without jury, he was acquitted of the charge today by Justice Colin Williams.
The Crown, represented by Senior Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell, relied mainly on the evidence of the alleged eyewitness, Adrian Avaloy.
Avaloy had allegedly given a statement to the police in which he identified Flowers as the shooter. But when Avaloy took the witness stand he recanted on the alleged statement. He admitted that he gave a statement but he said the police pressured him and forced him to give the statement. He said the police gave him a piece of paper but he did not read it. Avaloy was deemed a hostile witness and his statement was read into evidence. But although his statement was read into evidence it was not enough for a conviction because it was not oral evidence and there was no corroborating evidence.
Another witness for the Crown, Jamie Pollard, testified and said he did not see who the shooter was because when he heard what sounded like dynamite he jumped into the water. Having no other evidence to rely on, Senior Crown Counsel Lovell closed the case for the Crown. Flowers' attorney, Herbert Panton, then submitted that Flowers did not have a case to answer to. Justice Williams upheld the submission and acquitted Flowers.
