BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 4, 2019– On Friday, three men who were convicted of murder were brought  to the Supreme Court of Justice Colin Williams for a sentencing hearing, but the hearing had to be adjourned because the court could not proceed without a social impact statement.

The court was informed that the social impact statement would be ready on Friday afternoon, so Justice Williams adjourned the sentencing of Tyrone Clinton Harris, 32; Andy Forbes, 36; and William Vasquez, 35, to Monday, February 11.

The trio was convicted last October for the June 2012 murder of Joseph Meyers, in a trial without jury by Justice Williams.

Meyers, 21, was shot and killed when he was socializing with several friends at the Living Hope Primary School, located on Maskall Street in Belize City.

The friends were surprised by three men who crept up from behind the school building and opened fire on them. As a result of the gunfire, four persons were injured, but Meyers was the only person who died.

Forbes, Harris, and Vasquez were identified as the shooters by the other victims.

Harris and Vasquez were represented by attorney Simeon Sampson, while Forbes was represented by attorney Nigel Ebanks.

The Crown’s case was conducted by Crown Counsel Kileru Awich.

Under the new laws governing sentencing for persons convicted of murder, life in prison without the possibility of parole has been ruled to be unconstitutional and therefore, a fixed date sentence has become the rule.

All persons who are at the Belize Central Prison serving life sentences for murder will eventually be resentenced in accordance with the new sentencing guidelines.