Last night, we took you to Belmopan for the continuation of the murder trial of William “Dannyâ€￾ Mason, and his for co-accused, Ashton Vanegas, Keiron Fernandez, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo.

Yesterday, retired Assistant Police Commissioner Russell Blackett was re-called to testify. He had to defend himself against assertions from the defense attorneys for the accused men that he had a conflict of interest because Pastor Lu was a friend of his. 

After that, the lead police investigator, whose effort led to the arrest and criminal charging of all these men, took the stand. He had to give an in-depth account of every single action he took while he was working on this case.

At yesterday’s adjournment, this final prosecution witness had not finished being cross-examined by the defense counsels, but, his time on the stand was put on pause for this morning. 

That’s because the court made visits to 3 important locations in this case. The presiding judge, Justice Moore, and an entourage made a trip to Mason’s Intelco Hill property, his Outback Ranch, and the establishment that was once known as Sancho’s Bar. 

Our news team tagged along today and observed the proceedings from a distance. Daniel Ortiz reports:

This morning, a motorcade including Justice Antoinette Moore, DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, William Mason, and his 4 other co-accused, their defense attorneys, and the police security made 3 important visits to the locations which are pivotal to the outcome of this trial.

The first went to Mason’s Intelco Hill Home in Belmopan, which is where - according to the prosecution’s evidence - Pastor Lucas and 2 other men were abducted by Mason and his employees on the day he was most likely murdered.

After that, they visited Mason’s Outback Ranch, located between miles 30 and 31 on the Philip Goldson Highway. You’ll remember that this is where Pastor Lucas and the 2 other kidnapping victims were brought. The narrative was that those 2 were released, and never saw him alive again.

The police say that they also found other pieces of incriminating evidence here, which the prosecution has attempted to use to convince the court that these 5 men killed Pastor Lucas.

Before returning back the Belmopan Supreme Court, the motorcade one final stop to Sancho’s Bar in Belmopan. You’ll remember that this was where the cops found Pastor Lucas’ decapitated head at the back of Mason’s pickup truck.

The judge had been hearing about these locations for weeks, and she decided that it was important for her to visit them in person.

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Keiron Fernandez
"The judge felt that she needed to see and often times its helpful when you're in these trails all you see are paper documents and testimony of witnesses to guide you. Sometimes it is important and the judge felt it was important to go to the scene and hopefully what we did today assist the court in coming to a final determination."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir we notice after the visits, the judge asked certain questions of the local forensic expert. Explain to use what was the purpose of that?"

Bryan Neal
"Like I said, until you go to a scene and actually visualize in front of you what you're seeing, certain questions will arise and questions arose regarding matters like video cameras that was Sancho's bar and other matters that I won't go into but they are pertinent matters that arose based on us going to the scene this morning."

Reporter
"Sir but 3 years later there have been changes to the landscape at all these locations. How does that influence the case?"

Bryan Neal
"I will be sure to include that in my closing arguments because you just raised a good point. So whatever the judge gets from it will be what she decides to take from it but I cannot beyond that to say."

Reporter
"Sir take us back to the residence, what were the observations made at the residence?"

Bryan Neal
"There is a video that was disclosed and I think the main thing was to confirm some of the things that we saw on the video in terms of what happened at the property. Beyond that, I really don't want to get into the meat of the matter."

After these visits and the subsequent questions from the judge for the local forensics expert, the trial resumed with the defense counsels taking their turns to cross-examine the lead investigator in this case. They questioned every detail of his testimony as a key witness for the prosecution. Each has been trying to poke holes in his story, holes which they believe they can use to secure an acquittal for their clients.

Norman Rodriguez - Attorney for Ashton Vanegas
"I'm just doing what I should do as an attorney. When we listen to witness giving evidence, we look at certain things which provide a background or a foundation for us to discredit that witness. He said certain things in his evidence that I felt was worthy of following up and that is why I crossed him on certain areas."

Reporter
"Do you feel that the process of the investigation laid a charge of these men was improperly done?"

Norman Rodriguez
"'I cannot say it was improperly done, I'm not a police officer but I have my own feelings as to how police work is done. I would want to see a little more effort made into investigating before you charge. One of the big areas for me that I would want to see something done a little differently."

That final Prosecution witness has finished testifying, and DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has closed her case. The trial resumes on September 2nd, when the Defense will start making their case.