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Well, as you saw before the break, he was one of the people who went on the trip to Sarstoon Island. While we had the opportunity, we asked him about the acquittal from the accusation that he burnt BSI's cane fields, and here's what he had to say:

Efrain Alpuche, Acquitted of Arson
"To be honest I must say that it's a relief to be having that, even though I maintained my innocence. To have had that hanging was heavy. From last Friday we went to court and a memorandum was handed down from the DPP's office withdrawing the case. We were not disclosed, nor was m lawyer able to get a copy of the disclosure as to why, but it was withdrawn so I am quite relief and it's good to be out and I don't have that hanging over my head anymore."

Daniel Ortiz
"Was there any doubt?"

Efrain Alpuche, Acquitted of Arson
"About my innocence, no. That was purely political mischief on their part and I guess it didn't work out. My speculation is that they didn't have a case, so it fell apart on them."

Well, since then, we've gotten hold of a leaked copy of the memo from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution which ordered the withdrawal of the arson charges. In it, Crown Counsel Javier Chan outlines that there is no evidence to proceed with the trial. He comments on the main piece of evidence, a rear view mirror housing which belonged to Monchie Cervantes' vehicle. As we told you, police say that they saw Alpuche and Vasquez in the area around the burnt cane fields close to the time that the fire was set.

Well, Chan notes that this main piece of evidence which could tie both men to the incident has been contaminated. He explains that he has been reliably informed that police contaminated the evidence when they removed it from the scene of the crime without processing it. He says that his information is that police fitted the mirror to the vehicle in question, and when it matched up, they went and put it back on the crime scene. That makes it inadmissible in court as evidence, since it was mishandled.

So, with that and other concerns of an imminent prosecution failure, he directed that the charges be withdrawn.

And before we close tonight - for all those football fans hoping to see the Champions League match between Verdes and Queretaro, live from the FFB stadium, it won't be showing on this or any other channel - and that's because no Belizean media house could affords to purchase the rights. That, we understand, was bought by a Guatemalan group, who have the exclusive rights to tape and broadcast the game. From what we have been told - they are not streaming it live. So, sorry about that.