It was one of the most monstrous acts of murder we've ever reported on. In October of 2006, a man was accused of killing an entire family by burning down their home….well, he was acquitted today.
Thirty year old Albert Ara, a resident of Ontario Village charged with 6 counts of murder was acquitted of all counts yesterday in Belmopan Supreme Court.
A trial within a trial was held to determine the admissibility of a caution statement given to the police by Ara in which he admitted that at around midnight on October 2, 2006 he set fire to a wooden house in the Iguana Creek area in which a couple and their four children perished.
The trial judge, Justice Troadio Gonzalez, did not admit the statement into evidence because there was evidence that Ara was induced to give the statement. Without the confession statement the prosecution's case collapsed and senior crown counsel Cecil Ramirez indicated to the court that the prosecution had no further evidence to offer.
As a result, Justice Gonzalez directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
The deceased were 24 year old Elias Ayala, his common-law-wife 22 year old Maria Suchipe and their children Yanira , 7, Alexandra 6, Marco 4 , and Victor 2. Robert Pinida, the watchman at the farm, testified that he heard screams and he called the police. The house was completely destroyed by the time the police arrived. The deceased were burnt beyond recognition.
Ernest Dominguez, the person in charge of San Ignacio sub fire station, testified that there was evidence that the fired started from outside. Ara was represented by attorney Simeon Sampson. Albert Ara is remanded for another murder charge.
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