A little over a month ago, 7News told you about the progress of the preliminary inquiry for Tyrone Meighan, Orel Leslie, and Brandon Baptist, who are all jointly charged for the murder of 28 year-old James Norales.
All indications from their attorneys, Ellis Arnold and Arthur Saldivar, were that the police did not have evidence to present against these men, and they made no case submissions to the sitting Magistrate. The prosecution was given more than one adjournment to present its full bundle of evidence, and they kept asking for others, telling the court that their file wasn't completed.
Well today, the Chief Magistrate after perusing all that was presented to her, gave a ruling that the no case submissions were dismissed. Chief Magistrate Smith told the court that the men do have a case to answer to, and they must stand trial in the Supreme Court for murder.
The prosecution then proceeded to tender statements from 13 witnesses who they intend to call to testify against all 3 men. After the tendering, Chief Magistrate Smith remanded the men, and informed them that they will be standing trial in the January 2014 session of the Supreme Court.
The accused and their family members expected that they were going home today, and they were blind-sided by the ruling. Tyrone Meighan was the most upset, and he made his frustrations heard loud and clear when he was being escorted back to the holding cell, and to the police mobile.
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