In May of this year Ricardo “Ricky” Aguilar, Taedron Bennett, and Joseph Kee – all from the north side – were charged for the sensational Mother’s Day double murder of brothers Phillip and Kevin Brannon from the Yabra area of Southside.

Last week Friday, after eight months on remand 25-year-old customs broker Ricardo Aguilar was freed, and our sources informed us that he took a plane out of the country immediately after he was released by the court.

The news came on Friday, December 8, at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court in a directive from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Kirk Anderson. In a letter addressed to the Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord, the DPP clearly stated that the charge of murder (two counts) should be withdrawn against one of three defendants, namely, Ricardo Aguilar.  

According to police, the DPP in his letter stated that there is just not enough evidence against Aguilar and they had to release him.

On Friday the relatives of the deceased Brannon Brothers say they were not surprised when they heard that the murder charge was withdrawn against one of the accused. Basil Brannon, a younger brother of the deceased, who had been shot also but lived to tell the tale, said he was not surprised with the outcome of the case because he knew that one by one the men would walk free.

At a press conference held on Friday at the Racoon Street Police Station, the Police Department took the opportunity to update the press on the latest arrests and charges made in connection with the explosive increase of violent crime in the city. It is a situation that has the police trying to find ways to make this Christmas a safe one, especially in the city, where it appears there is a shooting war going on between two rival groups.

According to Police Press Officer, G. Michael Reid, they have not charged anyone yet for the murder of Oscar Westby, which occurred first over the weekend. They have two persons in custody for questioning, however.

On Friday, police were able to levy charges against Delford Slusher, a resident of Gales Point Manatee, one of two men that police believe are responsible for the shooting death of Noel Barrow, which occurred on Monday night, December 3.

Slusher now joins Leonardo Casanova, 25, a resident of Conch Shell Bay who was on Wednesday, December 6, also charged with Barrow’s murder.