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Danny Mason Trial Adjourned Again
posted (June 26, 2019)

Tuesday July 9th : That’s the date that Danny Mason’s trial will resume. The case was adjourned again today but this time it was because Justice Antionette Moore was not feeling well. Justice Moore had a short discussion with the attorney’s and the DPP to settle some details this afternoon and then, that was it; it was adjourned. We spoke to Kieron Fernandez Attorney, Bryan Neal as well as Mason’s attorney Dextor Todd after the session. Here is what they had to say about today's adjournment and the case going forward. 

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Kieron Fernandez
"The judge was not feeling well unfortunately, so the matter is again adjourned until the 9th of July when we will resume."

Reporter
"With Mr. Todd as the lead attorney, no one is holding briefings?"

Bryan Neal
"I won't say lead attorney, I think we're all on par, so other than the client he represents might have claimed more notoriety but we're all equal in terms of what we do at the bar table."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Is it safe to say that you were disappointed to hear the new today that you guys would not continue the case? I know you guys want to get it over with."

Bryan Neal
"Definitely because I was hoping that the 9th of July would have been the end of the case and now we are the beginning but in life you have sickness and you can't go around that in life so, it is what it is."

Reporter
"You don't foresee any other obstacles that might prevent the trail from commencing on July 9th?"

Bryan Neal
"Well I don't want to say too much but there are definitely now that we 4 attorneys have met and Ms. Swift we intend on meeting with her as well but there will be some preliminary issues that we intend to raise on the next occasion before the trail. Beyond that, I don't want to say but that could have a significant impact on the trail."

Reporter
"There would be submissions..."

Bryan Neal
"Some preliminary points can be raised and we've discussed it and so possibly, a strong possibility that we might raise some preliminary points before the trial resumes."

Reporter
"Sir without getting too much into it, will those preliminary points be related to the voir dire or the trail itself?"

Bryan Neal
"The voir dire is separate, the preliminary points would be something that fundamentally affects what happens in this trail."

Courtney Weatherburne
"What will be addressed come July?"

Bryan Neal
"Before July 9th because we want to give the court enough time to consider it but beyond that I don't want to delve into it because we want to give the judge a fair opportunity to consider the points that we raised."

Dexter Todd - Attorney for William Mason
"All counsels are ready. I am ready, the state is ready and I believe we should not have a hiccup in moving forward with the matter on that date."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Sir I know you weren't here for the last court session, could you tell us what issues you had?"

Dexter Todd
"They were no issues on the last occasion. I think what had happened is that there's always been communication with my office and what's happening here in Belize and what has transpired is that there was maybe a mix up between what will transpire on the day, taking into consideration that I need to come in from overseas. I'm not only practicing in my home country but I practice in other countries, so I believe that was the mix up but it was not I think, too bad because I think the time worked well for many other counsel."

So as you heard, the case has been adjourned until July 9th. Neal says there should be a final resolution to this case, hopefully by the end of July.

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