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For one year and four months Las Vegas Casino boss George Hardie along with three of his security guards were behind bars in a Mexican jail after the employer and employees were found guilty of attempted murder. Well, tonight, there been a major development; Hardie and Martin Miller have been set free. We’ll tell you how in a little while, but first, some background.

You may recall that the four got into trouble last July following an altercation that started inside the Hardie-owned Las Vegas Casino situated inside the Corozal Free Zone and ended across the Mexican border in Chetumal. And it was there that George Hardie, an American national, Belizean security guards Curlin Thompson, David Gomez and Martin Miller were arrested.

Their crime? The attempted murder of a Mexican national although the man was shot in Belize territory. They were also charged with smuggling of firearms in Mexico when they attempted to cross the Mexican border with their nine milimeter guns in pursuit of the Mexican. That charge, however, was later withdrawn. After being found guilty for attempted murder, American national George Hardie Jr. and the Belizean security guards were sentenced to ten years and six months. The other security guard Martin Miller was given seven years.

Today however, 7News received reports that only two remain imprisoned. The information is that this morning a Mexican appeals judge ordered the release of George Hardie Jr. and one of the security guards. According to a report from a Mexican radio station, both were granted “absolute freedom” by the Collegiate Federal Court which determined that there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute him on charges of attempted murder and carrying a firearm.

In his defense, Hardie said that the Mexicans started the fight, and he and his guards were only defending themselves. According to that Mexican report, David Gomez and Curlin Thompson are still being processed in a jail in Chetumal. More details should be known tomorrow.