7 News Belize

Convicted Husband Killer Viola Pook Gets A Retrial
posted (March 14, 2014)
And while that case played out in Belmopan, in the Court of Appeal in Belize City, 56 year old Viola Pook, was before the court. She was convicted of murdering her husband by setting him on fire on December 31, 2008. The evidence her trial was that Pook doused 46 year-old Orlando Vasquez with gasoline and set him ablaze. He died 2 days later after suffering from second degree burns to 70% of his body.

She appealed her conviction and sentence in the June 2013 session of the Appeal Court, and today, she got good news. The Judges allowed the appeal, set aside her conviction, and ordered a retrial. 7News was outside of court after the decision, and we got a reaction from her attorney, Simeon Sampson. Here's what he told us:

Simeon Sampson, attorney
"It is the lady who it is allege burnt her husband, the policeman arrive there and she didn't gave any statement to anyone and the policeman met the dying husband on the ground with serious burns to his body and the policeman corporal Zuniga approach who was sitting around and ask her what happen. And according to the police Zuniga she blurted out "da me catch him fire." That was the only evidence they had against her. So I had appeal to the effect that there was no warning definitely the police attitude in my submission, was sort of accusatory in my view when he ask what happen and she blurted out "da me catch him fire." There was absolutely no other evidence against her and I move the court to decide that that allege confession "da me catch him fire" ought not to have been admitted into evidence. The judge agreed this to me but on a different ground and she is going to stand trial another time. I wish her luck."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, are you able to give us an idea of which ground you think they accepted the most? Which one they think was the strongest?"

Simeon Sampson, attorney
"I was told by the DPP that my strongest point was that case was number two, where the police are obliged to tell a suspect on advance that he is going to be charged. That did not happen here."

Pook remains in custody tonight, while she awaits that retrial. She was staring down a life sentence, which, as we've told you, has been set aside.

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