In late November 2021, there was a drug plane landing leading to a sizable drug bust and capture of alleged traffickers in Mountain Pine Ridge. It was a major bust where police captured the Mexican copilot and impounded over 1,200 pounds of cocaine.
The prosecution of the 7 accused persons has been ongoing in the Cayo Magistrate's Court for 3 and a half years but ended abruptly today when Magistrate Kara Walters recused herself. There are five lawyers and two prosecutors involved in the trial.
So what does that mean? Well, after all those years of trial, the case will now have to start all over before a new Magistrate. The accused men are Salus Penner, Eric Young, along with Miguel Angel Zetina, Edwin Armando Gonzalez, Jaime Umberto Maz, Edilberto Medrano and Mexican Jesus Alberto Quintero - who has remained on remand since the bust.
So what led to this? Well, we are told the last two hearings were very contentious with hard words being exchanged in court between the lead prosecutor Alifah Elrington and the presiding magistrate - which may have precipitated the recusal.
The accused men will now have to wait for the matter to be assigned to a new magistrate - and start all over again - which is also a very expensive proposition when there are 5 lawyers involved. It could be some more years before it is concluded.
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