| Guatemalan gets re-trial for Aggravated Burglary conviction |
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| Written by Roy Davis | |
| Friday, 20 June 2008 | |
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Belize City, Thurs. June 19, 2008 - The Belize Court of Appeal granted an appeal today to
Guatemalan national Rene Morente, 22, who was convicted of aggravated burglary
and sentenced to 10 years in connection with the murder of American national
Mary Jane Blondell.
Morente’s conviction and sentence were quashed and a new trial was ordered. The Belize Court of Appeal will give its reason in writing at a later date. But it was disclosed that it was the view of the court that Morente, who had also been charged with murder, should have been tried separately for aggravated burglary and the verdict should have been given by a jury of 9, instead of a jury of 12.Morente was represented at the appeal hearing by attorney Oswald Twist. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Lyn Branker-Tait represented the respondent. Blondell, who lived alone at her farm in Santa Martha, Cayo, was found buried in a shallow grave near her house on July 18, 2004. Her throat had been cut and her chin was missing. Morente and another Guatemalan national, Carlos Granillo, were charged with Blondell’s murder. Granillo alone was charged with burglary. But on April 13, 2007, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge of murder. The jury found Morente guilty of aggravated burglary and Granillo guilty of burglary. Morente and Granillo will get a retrial for murder. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 04 July 2008 ) |
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