By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two Belize City men accused of the 2024 murder of Stanley Jerome Moore and attempted murder of Joshua Gillett have had the case against them discontinued after prosecutors were unable to locate their main witness.
Ulide Allen, 28, and Marquis Conorquie, 27, appeared before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim on Wednesday for what was expected to be the start of their murder trial. Instead, the Crown entered a nolle prosequi, formally discontinuing the prosecution after Gillett — the surviving victim and key witness — could not be found.
Justice Pilgrim explained that the discontinuance does not amount to an acquittal and that the men could face the charges again if prosecutors later obtain the evidence necessary to proceed.
Allen was free to leave court; however, Conorquie was escorted back to the Belize Central Prison, where he is serving a one-year, five-month sentence for an unrelated armed robbery conviction. He has appealed that conviction and is awaiting the hearing of his appeal.
The murder case arose from the June 23, 2024 shooting of 32-year-old Moore and Gillett. Police said Gillett was driving a silver BMW with Moore in the front passenger seat when two men on a motorcycle pulled alongside the vehicle near the intersection of Mahogany Street Extension and Amandala Drive. The motorcycle passenger allegedly opened fire on the BMW before the attackers escaped along Amandala Drive.
Moore was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but was found dead inside the vehicle in the hospital parking lot, while Gillett was treated for gunshot injuries and survived.
The difficulty securing Gillett’s testimony had already delayed the case. On July 30, the scheduled trial was postponed after he failed to appear despite reportedly indicating earlier that day that he would attend. Justice Pilgrim subsequently granted both accused bail of $16,000 with four sureties of $4,000 each and rescheduled the trial for September 16 and 17. Allen met bail, while Conorquie remained imprisoned because of his separate robbery sentence.
Allen was represented by attorney Michael Peyrefitte, while attorney Ronell Gonzalez represented Conorquie.
The post Murder case against Ulide Allen, Marquis Conorquie collapses after key witness cannot be found appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two Belize City men accused of the 2024 murder of Stanley Jerome Moore and attempted murder of Joshua Gillett have had the case against them discontinued after prosecutors were unable to locate their main witness. Ulide Allen, 28, and Marquis Conorquie, 27, appeared before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim on
The post Murder case against Ulide Allen, Marquis Conorquie collapses after key witness cannot be found appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
