Police firearm examiner failed to appear in court to testify

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 8, 2012

Brandon Taylor, 25, Curlan Phillips, 22, and Devany Myers, 27, were today found not guilty of keeping an unlicensed firearm and keeping unlicensed ammunitions by Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer.

This afternoon, the trio was told that they were not guilty of the charges after the firearm examiner from the National Forensic Service, Orlando Vera, failed to appear to testify. The prosecutor was then forced to close his case, after which, the Senior Magistrate made her decision.

In September of 2011, the men were intercepted by police at the junction of Burrell Boom while they were travelling in a red Isuzu Trooper. When police searched the vehicle, they found the gun and ammunitions in a plastic bag tucked away under the hand rest between the two front seats.

Phillips and Myers were free to leave the court and go home, but Taylor is currently on remand for the murder of Kaylon Matura.

Matura was shot and killed right in front of his yard located on Central American Boulevard at 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2012, as he was getting ready to leave for his work.