Last night we told you that the defence had rested in the case of Darrell Grant who was accused of home invading, robbing and brutally bludgeoning Sandra Ruiz to death. Ruiz was at her home on Meighan Avenue with her two daughters when a man broke in sexually assaulted and beat her with a hammer while also injuring her young daughter.
Well this evening, a twelve persons jury that deliberated for over four hours found twenty four year old Grant guilty of the murder of 39 year old Sandra Ruiz.
When the verdict came out, the family of Sandra Ruiz was almost at a loss for words and very emotional that two years after her brutal murder - justice has been served.
Brother of Sandra Ruiz
"She is saying that she is happy with the verdict and that she is very grateful to the prosecutor and the jury members and to the structure that this case too form."
Andrea Polanco
"It's been 2 years. Do you think that your family is finally getting some closure on your sister's murder?"
Brother of Sandra Ruiz
"Bit by bit yes, you could say that. My mother said that she now knows that there is justice in Belize."
Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"It's a sad time because you cannot get back your love one but I believe that justice has been served and I just hope that we continue getting more justice for our families for the families of murdered victims. We Belizeans for Justice are here to support the families who have had these losses because of murders and we will continue to be here."
Andrea Polanco
"This verdict today, does it give you hope for the other families who have lost love ones similar to this?"
Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"It does, it gives me hope, we hope that the justice system will be improved, we will get more resources for the police department, better forensic, finger printing you know, there is hope. In my case, Christopher Galvez case we have never had anyone arrested so it gives me hope for that too that someday justice will be served in Chris Galvez's case."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"I want to give maximum respect to the jury, I think they paid keen attention throughout and I also want to use street language in relation to the deputy director of public persecution Mr. Yohhanhseh Cave who conducted a thorough and well organize prosecution. In this particular which has outrage the society from the very Sunday night that the information came out when the doctor gave his testimony. The state of the defendant was sealed at that stage, if there was any lingering doubts anywhere, there were moments in there and in fact the fact that the jury went in from 15 minutes to 12 o' clock and just came out indicates that they were grappling with issues which would suggest to me that in fact there were members of the jury who wish to thoroughly satisfy themselves."
Andrea Polanco
"So you return to court next week when he will be sentenced?"
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Well an interesting matter was raised just now and myself and Anthony Sylvestre was discussing it, his Lordship indicated to me rather than the opposite my indicating to him that he would wish to hear and would set a date on the 18th of this month for what we refer to as mitigation."
The Prosecution was represented by Senior Crown Counsel, Yohhanhseh Cave…
Email
Print