Justice prevailed for the Ramnarace and Belisle families in the courtroom today after a guilty verdict was delivered to Elmer Nah for the murders of Jon, David and Vivian Ramnarce. Jomarie Lanza was there as the family anxiously waited to hear if the evidence was enough to support Nah's conviction. Here's that story.
Gathered outside the Belize City High Court this afternoon, the family of Jon, David, and Vivian Ramnarace finally faced the verdict they have spent the last three years waiting for.
Justice prevailed for the family, after spending 3 hours reading a 60 page judgement, the accused Elmer Nah was found guilty for the murder's of Jon, David and Vivian Ramnarace and the attempted murder of Yemi Alberto.
Vivian's sister who spoke on behalf of the family says that while the verdict was the one they had hoped for, nothing will be able to change or bring back their loved ones.
Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce
"We are overwhelmed, grateful, thankful, Vivian really played the most significant role in convicting her murderer and her husband's murder's and her brother in law's murderer so, you know as much as we are thankful today we are still I guess overwhelmed because despite this victory, we are still without Vivian."
Reporter-
"What was the family's worst fear?"
Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce
"That he was acquitted you know because she was in her right state of mind Vivian never lost her mental faculties and you know that was our greatest fear knowing that she, well she didn't name him but she described him and identified him and if he had gotten away with that I don't know how we would have took that because you know at the end of the day a child is left without a mother and father so as much as we are grateful today that he has been convicted the damage has already been done. A child has to grow up the rest of her life without her mom and her dad but I am glad that justice was served especially for her today and I am proud of my sister I am very proud of her she was fearless, she was brave, very very brave and you know to God be the glory."
It was Vivian's statement and the video evidence that sealed the verdict for Nah. The judge in his statement declared her to be a honest and reliable witness despite her delicate condition at that time.
Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce
"Because he said Vivian was an honest witness and Vivian has no reason to lie, Vivian was always a principled woman. I am always amazed she has always been a good influence to me in my entire life I have only know her to be a woman of good principles and integrity so that is what she displayed and thank God for everything."
And while the family will be able to walk away with one weight off their shoulders, Belise says that they are also prepared in the event that Nah appeals.
Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce
"Nah is always staring down the family, me especially because I don't know if you have seen pictures of her I resemble her a lot so I always said even if he got acquitted I know that it is him just from his body language and the way he looks at me every time he sees me. I know he is looking at Vivian when he sees me."
Reporter-
"Do you fear an appeal?"
Vashti Belisle, Sister of Vivian Ramnarce
"I know that is coming but we are in it for the long haul and we are here for however long."
"Its been hard but thank God for a supportive family we come from a very very bug christian family and honestly it is the prayers and the love from our family that has kept us going so we give thanks to the Pascasios and the Belise's, and we give thanks to God almighty you know it is our fate him that has kept us throughout this entire time."
Nah's sentencing is scheduled for June 18th.
