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Accused As Teenagers, Two Men Get Off Double Murder Charge For Killing American Couple
posted (July 4, 2013)
20 year-old Jodean Vidal, and 22 year-old Michael Lamb have been acquitted of the double murder of Americans Michael and Donna Hill which occurred in Cayo five years ago.

Viewers may recall that the couple's bodies were found in the bushes behind their home in Cristo Rey Village in the Cayo District. They died from shotgun injuries to the head, which police believed were inflicted at close range. One of their vehicles, their laptop computers, some of their personal items, and money were stolen.

Police investigated and they eventually detained both men, who were only 15 and 17 years-old respectively. While he was being interviewed by police in the presence of his mother, Vidal reportedly confessed to the crimes, and he took the officers to the area where the stolen items were located.

As a result, police arrested and charged both men in connection with this crime, and 5 years after that, they got their day in court. Their case started 2 weeks ago before Justice Denis Hanomansingh in Belmopan Supreme Court.

Since the confession statement was the only evidence that DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal had against both men, the admissibility of it had to be tested in a trial within this trial.

At its conclusion, Justice Hanomansingh ruled that the statement was inadmissible because he was of the view that Vidal's constitutional rights were violated. The judge ruled that that the officers involved in the investigation deprived Lamb of his constitutional rights because the officer who first interviewed him did not fully explain those rights to him. He additionally found that the officer did not allow him to speak in private with his mother.

In relation to Vidal, he ruled that his claim of police brutality was somewhat substantiated by the description of events given by the police officers themselves.

As a result, Justice Hanomansingh directed the jury to acquit both men of the charges.

Lamb was allowed to leave court a free man, but Vidal remains behind bars. He is currently serving an 8 year sentence for Use of deadly means of harm for an incident in September of 2007 when he assaulted a female with a piece of lumber

He was on bail for that offence when the Hills were murdered. He pleaded guilty to that offence when it came up for trial in June of 2009. Vidal has other convictions, but in this particular case, he admitted that he beat up the girl because she owed him $20.

He is reportedly now eligible for parole.

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