35 year-old Delford Slusher, who has been on remand at the Belize Central Prison for over 5 and a half years, was acquitted of murder today before Justice Adolph Lucas in a trial without jury.

Back in July 2012, Slusher was was identified as the man who perpetrated a home invasion at a house in Hattieville. The assailant reportedly broke into the house and held 2 females hostage at gunpoint while he searched for valuables. Police Corporal Victor Lima and other officers responded to the crime in progress, and as soon as he opened the door, the burglar shot him twice in the chest. He succumbed to his injuries days later.

Slusher was charged with murder for Lima's fatal shooting, and Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell called the 2 female victims to testify against him.

Both witnesses told the court that although the home invader wore a shirt over the bridge of his nose, and cloth on his head, they still recognized him as Slusher, who they knew as "Peter". They said that they recognized him from his familiar body type. They also said that he spoke with a Jamaican accent.

In his defense, Slusher gave a statement from the dock, saying that at the time of this home invasion, he was at his step-mother's house. She also testified and corroborated his version of event.

After consideration, Justice Lucas did not believe Slusher's alibi evidence, but he also did not think that the identity evidence indicated beyond all reasonable doubt that this burglar was indeed Slusher.

Because he considered the identification evidence weak, he found Slusher not guilty, setting him free.

Slusher was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre.