A cop who was originally charged for murder, then convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years for it is a free man after the Court of Appeals overturned his conviction. Former Constable Alpheus Parham was convicted of killing Alex Goff on May 9, 2010, in the cellblock at the Caye Caulker Police Station. Goff was a detainee and was making a lot of noise when Parham went to check on him. 5 minutes later a gunshot was heard and Goff was found dead, with a gunshot wound to his forehead. Parham testified that it was a case of self-defense. He appealed on the grounds that the trial judge had failed to properly direct the jury on the issue of self-defense. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lyn suggested the Belize Court of Appeal order a retrial. But the Court of Appeal decided to quash Parham's conviction and sentence and set him free. Parham was represented by attorney Simeon Sampson. He had served 6 years in jail.
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A cop who was originally charged for murder, then convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years for it is a free man after the Court of Appeals overturned his conviction. Former Constable Alpheus Parham was convicted of killing Alex Goff on May 9, 2010, in the cellblock at the Caye Caulker Police Station. Goff was a detainee and was making a lot of noise when Parham went to check on him. 5 minutes later a gunshot was heard and Goff was found dead, with a gunshot wound to his forehead. Parham testified that it was a case of self-defense. He appealed on the grounds that the trial judge had failed to properly direct the jury on the issue of self-defense. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lyn suggested the Belize Court of Appeal order a retrial. But the Court of Appeal decided to quash Parham's conviction and sentence and set him free. Parham was represented by attorney Simeon Sampson. He had served 6 years in jail.