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The Murder Trial of William Danny Mason, and his 4 co-defendants, Ashton Vanegas, Keron Fernandez, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo, continued today in the Belmopan Supreme Court before Justice Antoinette Moore.

It was an all-day session which ended late this evening, with yet another major disclosure in evidence. It happened as part of a trial within this trial, where the judge is examining whether or not the she will allow a caution statement from defendant Ernest Castillo to be admitted into evidence. He and his attorney, Herbert Panton, are challenging it, claiming that this statement was beaten out of him, and that at the time of its recording, Castillo was denied access to legal counsel. 

A police officer took the stand before midday, and he outlined to the court the series of events surrounding his interaction with Castillo. He asserted that at no time did he brutalize Castillo into giving the statement. This officer claimed that Castillo gave it willingly.

We now turn to a brief look at this caution statement, since it has not been determined whether or not it will be admitted into evidence. Another officer took the stand this evening and testified that he was the one who recorded the statement. 

We stress that this caution statement is currently being tested, and it may or may not be admitted into evidence against the defendants.

Another one of the biggest disclosures of the trial so far happened yesterday, when the court reviewed video footage from the surveillance system that was set up at Mason's Intelco Hill residence. 

The court saw footage captured from Mason's surveillance cameras which showed when Pastor Llewellyn Lucas arrived, and he was looking for Mason. The video showed Lucas being escorted by a man to a back porch area of the house. Mason was then seen walking over to the area where Lucas was taken. The video then showed Mason talking with 2 accomplices, and during that conversation, one of the persons handed him what appeared to be a firearm.

This surveillance footage from another camera at the residence later showed 2 individuals escorting Pastor Lucas from one area of the property to another. The camera captured when one of the persons walking behind Lucas pulled out what appeared to be a huge butcher knife from his waist.

Another camera later recorded when 3 persons were being placed into the back of a black pickup truck. The first person was picked up and thrown into the pan, after he showed reluctance to comply. A second person was later lifted up, and also thrown in, and finally, a third person was subjected to the same treatmen.That video also showed a man who appeared to be William Mason jumping into the driver's side of the pickup truck.

Viewers will remember that the prosecution witness, David Dodd, testified last week, that he and another man were kidnapped shortly after accompanying Lucas to Mason's home.

In yesterday's afternoon session of the trial, the Senior police officer, who was serving as the Acting Commissioner of Police at the time, took the stand and testified against the men.

He told the court that at around 2:30 a.m. on July 16, 2016, hours after Mason had been detained following the discovery of Pastor Lucas' head, he was was in his office, getting a full briefing when the officer informed him that Mason wanted to speak with him privately. According to this officer, he was acquainted with Mason because in March of that year, Mason was a part of an entourage which accompanied National Security Minister John Saldivar to the islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

He told the court that when he met with Mason, Mason told him that he was friends with some ministers, and that he had supported several of these ministers. According to the police witness, Mason then told him that if he wanted to know whose head was in the bucket, he can find the person's identity on Facebook. The witness said that he then instructed Mason to use his own phone, and that's when Mason allegedly produced a picture of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas.

The officer testified that before this conversation started, he cautioned Mason that whatever he said would be taken into evidence. He said that after he he learnt the identity of the victim, he ordered police to escort Mason back to a holding Cell. 

This morning, the officer was cross-examined by defense attorney Herbert Panton, who challenged his testimony in the court.