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Danny Mason's Astounding Dock Statement: He Maintains Innocence and Sobs for Slain Pastor
posted (September 12, 2019)

Since March 12th, William "Danny" Mason, Ashton Vanegas, Keiron Fernandez, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo have been on trial for the 2016 beheading murder of Pastor Lewellyn Lucas.

We've been closely following it, and we've brought you regular updates, discussing how DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has presented piece after piece of evidence in her attempts to prove that each of these defendants had a role to play in Pastor Lucas' gruesome death. 

Well today, after being accused of being the mastermind behind Pastor Lucas' killing for over 3 years, the now infamous Mr. Mason was given his opportunity to defend himself. There was the suggestion that he might take the stand and give sworn testimony, but when hearing commenced this morning, and he was allowed to speak, he chose, instead, to give a dock statement.

Now, as viewers will remember, the DPP has called witnesses to testify that on the day Pastor Lucas' head was discovered in Mason's pickup truck, Pastor Lucas and his companions, American David Dodd and another pastor, were kidnapped from Mason's Intelco Hill Home, and they were taken to his Outback Ranch near La Democracia.

The court saw video footage captured from the surveillance system at Mason's home, which clearly showed when Pastor Lucas and his companions arrived, and when 3 persons - believed to be Lucas and the other 2 men - were kidnapped. A man who resembled Mason jumped into a black pickup truck that the kidnapping victims were thrown into, and that man drove away from Mason's house. Then, there is the discovery of Pastor Lucas' head in the pan of Mason's pick up later that night.

So, a very vivid picture has been painted of Mason's involvement in the crime. But, he told the court today that basically, the police, the DPP, the prosecution witnesses, and everybody involved with this case is completely wrong about him. He asserted he did not kill Pastor Lucas, and that Pastor Lucas was a close friend of his.

He started his lengthy dock statement with a back story that he is a businessman who came to Belize looking for opportunities as an entrepreneur in the livestock and agriculture sectors. During the course of his time here, he met a man by the name of Jesus Castillo, who later introduced him to Pastor Lucas.

He said they quickly became friends, and that Pastor Lucas became a representative of his commercial interests in Belize. Â According to Mason, on July 15, 2016, he called Lucas to come to his home so that they could discuss distressing news that Lucas had received threatening text messages. He said that he wanted to offer whatever help he could to Pastor Lucas because they had become friends.

According to Mason, they discussed the fact that Lucas hadn't shown up to work for an entire month, and he offered reasons to explain his absence. He said that Pastor Lucas asked to borrow money, but he, Mason, had work to do at his ranch, so he said that he would make a decision at the end of the day. According to him, Pastor Lucas left his house, and that was the last time he saw Pastor Lucas that day.

He said he and his workmen spent the entire day looking after his 45 horses on his ranch, and in the evening, Jesus Castillo called him to have some drinks at a bar in Belmopan. He claims that he and his workmen went to the bar in his truck, and he went to socialize with Castillo and 2 other police officers. He then narrated the entire arrest from his perspective, and his account is that the police carried out an overzealous detention and search against him and his workers. He explained about not being able to find his keys to give the cops access to his vehicle after they showed up to the bar demanding to conduct a search. He then explained how retired Assistant Police Commissioner Blackett arrived at the Bar and aggressed him for information, and all this while, according to him, he had no clue why police took such an acute interest in him.

Mason said that he was removed from the bar for an amount of time, and when he was brought back to his vehicle on the compound, he saw 3 police officers near the pan of his vehicle, and one of them was inside. He said that he saw them removing some object, but he didn't know what it is.

According to Mason, no one explained anything to him until Blackett confronted him at the Belmopan Police station with information that Pastor Lucas' head was discovered in the back of his vehicle.

It was here that Mason sobbed, and said quote, "I do not know anything that happened that day in respect to Mr. Lucas" End quote

Later on, he added, quote, "I immediately broke down and started crying after hearing of my friend. I was sad to learn what happened. I must say I had nothing to do with this." End quote.

Closing his dock statement, Mason repeated his denial, and said, quote, "I must say that I'm very shocked and surprised as to what was happening. I was very saddened when I learned that my friend, Lewellyn Lucas, had met his demise. I had nothing to do with this allegation... I help people. I care for people, and I would never do such a thing... And everything, to me, came to a shock... I have been dragged, defamed, called names, lost income"

So, was his asserted affection for Pastor Lucas nothing more than a Hollywood performance? Or is he an innocent and clueless man as he claimed today? These are questions that Justice Antoinette Moore will have to make a decision on when it comes time for a verdict in the trial.

But, at the end of the hearing, we got a chance to question with defense attorney Norman Rodriguez about the content of the dock statement, versus the evidence that the DPP Vidal has led against him and the other 4 defendants. Here's how that conversation went:

Norman Rodriguez - Attorney for Ashton Vanegas
"One witness, Mr. Mason began his defence, and at first, he was not going to call any witness, but he will call one witness now. He basically gave an unsworn statement from the dock."

Reporter
"What comes immediately to mind is that the DPP has provided volumes of evidence against these 5 accused persons. But, the 2 people who have given a defence from the dock, haven't addressed any of that evidence. Isn't that a dangerous course of action?"

Norman Rodriguez
"I would not say that they have not, you know, because any statement was given from the dock, the accused would have had a chance to consult with counsel. And the counsel will not tell the accused what to say, but based on the discussion that they have, they will decide what needs to be said. And maybe it is from this that has emerged the reason why they need to call a witness. But, I need to add one little thing here. You stated that the DPP has given volumes of evidence, and we agree, and kudos to the DPP in any case where they bring out the evidence that they feel that they need to. But again, I say that the defence will provide what evidence that it needs to in relation to responding to the case that they believe that they need to. I will not say ÃÆ'ƒ¢ÃƒÆ'¢Ãƒ¢Ã¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã‚¡Ã‚¬ÃƒÆ’Æ'â€Â¹ÃƒÆ’…"made out against them', but what they believe that they need to respond to."

Reporter
"Okay sir; explain to us after Mr. Mason's witness comes to testify through whatever mode that happens, what's the next step in terms of the conclusion and wrapping up of this case."

Norman Rodriguez
"There will be the closing, then the decision. And since Mr. Mason is calling a witness, he will then do his closing. The DPP will do her closing in relation to that, and also to the case against the other 4 accused. And then the others who remain silent, they will give their closing. Then, of course, the judge, as the judge of facts and the jury itself will give the decision."

The case continues tomorrow at 9 where a decision on Mason's only witness will be made. He has decided to call a witness to testify on his behalf, but we understand that there may difficulties in getting access to this witness. We'll tell you about tomorrow's hearing in our subsequent newscast.

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