A jury that has been deliberating the fate of Edward “Mando” Reyes, who was granted a retrial by Belize Court of Appeal, has returned a second guilty verdict on Reyes’ manslaughter charge. The charge resulted from the shooting death of Norman Casman Ferguson, 51, aka “Butta,” who was shot inside of Prime Cuts Meat exactly four years ago today. Ferguson died outside the meat shop on Central American Boulevard on Saturday, January 22, 2005. He was an employee of Reyes, who owned the now defunct meat shop. Reyes was originally charged with Ferguson’s murder, but the murder charge was reduced to manslaughter.
After being shot in the chest with Reyes’ licensed 9mm handgun, Ferguson stumbled outside the meat shop, but he did not get too far. He died in front of the shop. Reyes then pulled down the shutters and closed the shop after the incident.
Shortly after the shooting incident, Reyes was arrested and charged with the crime of murder. But after a few months in prison, the then DPP Kirk Anderson reduced Reyes’ murder charge to manslaughter. That set the stage for Reyes to come out of prison on bail to await his day in court.
In his first trial, a jury of eight men and one woman deliberated for about two hours and returned a guilty verdict on the manslaughter charge. That first trial ended on March 10, 2006.
Reyes was then represented by attorneys Ellis Arnold, Michel Chebat, and Lutchman Sooknandan. The case was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Kamar Henry.
Following the guilty verdict, the Chief Justice, Dr. Abdulai Conteh sentenced Reyes to seven years in prison. But he did not serve his prison sentence. He appealed the Supreme Court decision.
His attorney, Sandra Garoy, convinced the Court of Appeal that just because Reyes gave inconsistent statements during his trial did not mean that he was guilty of the manslaughter charge.
According to court reports, Reyes said that he acted in self defense during a struggle that began when Ferguson tried to take money from his pocket. Reyes was granted bail in the amount of six thousand dollars and one surety of the same amount, as he began waiting for his second trial from July 2006 when the Court of Appeal overturned his guilty verdict and ordered a new trial.
The new trial began last week Monday, January 12. The trial ended this morning after thirteen witnesses had testified and Reyes’ defense attorney, Ellis Arnold, Senior Counsel, addressed the jury.
The jury, which consisted of five females and four males, went into the jury room at 12:25 p.m. At exactly 2:46 p.m. the jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict.
Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas has set Wednesday, January 28, 2009 as the time when he will pass sentence.
The prosecution’s case was presented by Crown Counsel Trina Young.