Yesterday defence attorney Dickie Bradley entered a no case submission for
police constable Robert Polonio, who was accused of the murder of a civilian
in the line of duty. Bradley argued that the evidence was circumstantial and
would require the jury to speculate. This morning, Justice Troadio John Gonzalez
upheld the submission and instructed the jury of 5 women and 7 men to return
a verdict of not guilty.
And with that, 25 year old Polonio was acquitted of the murder of 49 year old
Carmen Alexander Herrera. Herrera was shot around 11:30 on August 3, 2008 in
Belize City when he jumped into the river by the Swing Bridge trying to escape
from police. Police claimed he had a weapon, his family says he only had some
marijuana in his hand. He was shot in the head and back with a shotgun. And
while the circumstances of his death have all appearances of wrongfulness, Bradley
argued in court that none of the witnesses for the prosecution identified Polonio
as the person who shot Herrerra.
Evidence produced in the case revealed that Herrerra had crack cocaine and
cannabis on him at the time of his death. Police were about to search him at
the corner of Regent Street West when he ran and jumped in the river.
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