After spending almost 3 years on remand, defendants Tyrone Meighan, Orel Leslie, and Brandon Baptist are at home tonight after they were acquitted of the murder of 28 year-old James Norales.

All 3 men stood trial without jury before Justice Troadio Gonzalez, and the evidence that all 3 defendants, Aaron Paquil, and the victim were socializing in Leslie's yard on the evening of November 26, 2012. They ran out of drinks, and the investigators believe that this was the time when they lured him to the junction of Fabers Road and the George Price Highway, under the pretense of replenishing the stock. When they arrived at the specific area, the 3 allegedly then forced him to get out of a black vehicle, and that's where they shot him several times and left him to die.

Of important note is the main witness in the case was one of the men who was socializing with the 3 accused and the victim. He told the court that he saw Leslie carrying a 9mm pistol, and Meighan was armed with a .32 pistol. This main witness told the court that 2 days before Norales was murdered, the 3 defendants threatened to kill him for being a "snitch". Viewers will remember that this murder happened around the time when the Gang Suppression Unit made a major ammunition find in gang territory, based on information they were provided with.

A police witness testified that he saw a black vehicle speeding away from the scene of the crime, and while police were canvassing Belize City for evidence they supposedly confiscated a 9mm pistol from a security guard who was working at Safeway Drug Store, which is owned by Orel Leslie's family. This was allegedly the weapon that Leslie had in his possession.

When the prosecution closed their case, Ellis Arnold and Dickey Bradley, the defense attorneys made no case submissions on the premise that none of the witness provided any evidence which directly tied them to the murder of James Norales.

After consideration, Justice Gonzalez upheld the no-case submissions and acquitted all 3 men, allowing them to go free.