3 brothers, 46 year old Phil Staine, 37 year old Kareem Staine and 41 year old Orlando Staine, are back at the Belize Central Prison tonight. They are waiting on a decision from Justice Adolph Lucas who has presided over their trial for the murder of 23 year-old Denver Villafranco.
Villafranco, a BDF volunteer, was fatally stabbed in January of 2015. The trial without jury of the 3 Staine brothers began early last month. The Crown relied mainly on the evidence of three witnesses one of whom testified that the deceased and the brothers were fighting in a drain and he saw when Phil Stain stabbed Villafranco.
In their defense, Each accused gave a statement from the dock in which they admitted that they were involved in a fight with Villafranco but they did not stab and kill him. They said that Villafranco was walking past their house and threw a pint bottle at Kareem. Orlando said that he and Phil intervened and a fight broke out between them and Villafranco. Orlando said that it was ONE OF the prosecution's witness, who took out a knife and stabbed Villafranco to the right side of his abdomen. He also said that this witness drove them to an apartment behind Lakers Cool Spot and showed them the knife and told them he stabbed Villafranco.
After listening for 3 days to submissions from both Crown Counsel Portia Ferguson and defense attorney Bryan Neal, Justice Lucas adjourned the case until November 5. That's when he will deliver his verdict on the guilt or innocence of the 3 brothers.
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