In last night's newscast, we told you about Paul Jex, the man who was on trial for the murder of 30 year-old Aubrey Lopez, the son of Belmopan Mayor Simeon Lopez.
As we told you, Lopez was murdered on May 12, 2010 when a group of men carjacked him. A gunman inside the vehicle, shot him in the head and threw him out to die on Prince Street. Police later spotted the car and after a high speed chase, allegedly caught Jex inside the vehicle with a weapon believed to have been used in the murder.
That's the case that Jex was facing after almost 4 years on remand. Coupled with the fact that police had a witness who gave a written statement that fingered Jex as the gunman, he had quite a lot of defending to do in the 3 week trial.
The Jury delivered the judgement last night at 9:30, and 7News was there. Daniel Ortiz reports:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
At a little bit before 9, well past the 4 hour mark for deliberations, interested parties started to file back into Justice Adolph Lucas' courtroom.?
Mayor Simeon Lopez, and his family, would finally know after 3 weeks of religiously showing up to court to witness the case if the man accused of killing his son would be convicted. And after a long day and a long wait of 3 years and 9 months, the justice system ran its course.
The police escorted Paul Jex, the man standing trial for the crime, back to the court, a short while later, looking a bit nervous. But indeed he was staring down a possible life sentence, even after waiting almost 4 years for his day in court.
His family was also feeling the pressure and when one of the members rushed up to hug him before the he went back in, the police were forced to tell her to step aside. He was, after all, still in custody and shouldn't be interacting with anyone other than officers.
After, more than 4 hours, the jury had deliberated, and when they were asked to return their verdict, the tension was palpable. When the foreman announced a not guilty verdict, the Lopez family and friends were disheartened.
Jex, was immediately discharged and he walked out of court a free man, the weight visibly lifted, and he was greeted enthusiastically by his family.
A few more second of celebration, and Jex immediately vacated the court house, double riding up-stop trying to hurriedly leave.
The Lopez family exited the court room a short while after, the disappointment clearly showing, Mayor Lopez brushed off a request for comment. They also quickly left the premises.
Jex' Attorney granted a short interview on the outcome.
Attorney for Paul Jex
"Well our instructions were that he was nowhere in the vicinity so we presented a defence of alibi."
Daniel Ortiz
"Can you explain to us what was that particular defence? How did he explain himself and the situation where he was discovered with this vehicle?"
Attorney for Paul Jex
"I wouldn't want to go over all the facts that were in the case, but clearly the jury listened very carefully to all the evidence and that's the verdict they came to, but I wouldn't want to go into all that evidence at this time."
Daniel Ortiz
"Has his defence in your opinion ever waver that look I was always the wrong person that was charge for this?"
Attorney for Paul Jex
"You are asking me to tell you what's my client's instruction and really and truly I cannot do that."
Daniel Ortiz
"Your client is kind of ecstatic?"
Attorney for Paul Jex
"I don't know, you will have to ask him. I have not seen him - so that should say a lot."
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