There is a conviction for murder coming out of the Supreme Court - and it happened yesterday in front of Justice Herbert Lord. 27-year-old Jason Sanchez, aka "Jungle Rat," has been found guilty of the November 2014 murder of 35-year-old Emmerson Arnold.
Arnold, a father of 4 children, was shot and killed in an early-morning gun attack on November 28, 2014. The victim was reportedly on his way to work at Belize Water Services, and while he was on Gibnut Street, he was ambushed by a shooter on a bicycle wearing a hoodie. The gunman shot Arnold 7 times in the back, and he passed away shortly after that.
A few days later, police arrested and charged Sanchez for murder, and after six years on remand, his murder trial began before Justice Herbert Lord last year. Due to COVID, the trial was delayed, but eventually, the prosecutor was able to present the state's evidence against Sanchez.
One of the prosecution's most important sources of evidence was an eyewitness who called the police shortly after the shooting had occurred. She told police that she was also on her way to work when she happened upon the street slaying of Arnold. She identified Sanchez - who she also knew as "Jungle Rat" - as the gunman. She did not have to testify in court for fear of her life because she received several death threats from persons trying to intimidate her into not cooperating with police investigators.
Her written statement was admitted into evidence against Sanchez, and the prosecutor also called 11 other witnesses to testify under oath.
In his defense, Sanchez gave a statement from the dock and told the court that he was innocent and that he did not shoot anyone. He also denied that he was also called "Jungle Rat."
This morning, the presiding judge returned with a 70-page judgment in which he reasoned that the crown had proven their case and that he was sure, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Sanchez was the gunman who targeted the victim that day.
Sanchez will receive his sentence for the guilty verdict at a later date after a mitigation plea is made on his behalf.
