Jermaine Pascascio, 22, charged with the murder of Pickstock Street businessman Inez “Blankie” Leal, 64, who was shot and killed during a robbery of his store on September 23, 2003, walked out of the court of Justice Adolph Lucas a free man today when Crown Counsel Tracy Sosa entered a nolle prosequi, indicating that the prosecution did not wish to proceed
The nolle prosequi was entered because the chief witness, former police constable Roman Cantun, told Crown Counsel Tracy Sosa that he would not testify because he is no longer a police officer and he fears for himself and his family.
Cantun had given the police a statement in which he said he was on Pickstock Street where Blankie’s Store is located, when he heard shots and he saw a person running out of the store.
Pascascio was convicted of Leal’s murder on February 9, 2006. He appealed and the Belize Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. It was when the retrial was to start that the nolle prosequi was entered.
Pascascio was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre, Jr.