Retrial Date Set for William “Danny” Mason and Ryan Rhaburn in Kidnapping Case

The highly anticipated retrial of William “Danny” Mason and Ryan Rhaburn for kidnapping and blackmail has been officially scheduled for April 29, before Justice Nigel Pilgrim in the High Court. The case will be heard before a jury of nine, which is yet to be selected.  This morning, Mason and Rhaburn appeared before Justice Pilgrim for their Case Management Conference (CMC), which concluded with a precise trial date set.  The trial is expected to last for eight working days, concluding on May 9, 2025.  Mason’s legal team is led by attorney Peter Taylor, originally from Trinidad, and includes Senior Research Officer Eustace Warner and Instructing Attorney-at-Law Nehanda Samuels. Representing the Crown is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) herself, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal. Rhaburn is represented by Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson and attorney Ian Gray.  During the CMC, Gray informed the court that Rhaburn intends to call one alibi witness, while Taylor stated that Mason will call three alibi witnesses.  Outside the courtroom, Taylor, who was just called to the Belize Bar a day prior before Justice Jared Mansor, expressed his team’s readiness to defend Mason in the upcoming trial.  This will be the second trial for Mason and Rhaburn after their initial case ended in a mistrial in July 2024 before Justice Francis Cumberbatch in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court.  On July 19, 2024, the court denied a defense application to change the trial venue from Belmopan to Belize City. The trial began on July 22, 2024, but ultimately resulted in a mistrial.  Mason and Rhaburn face two counts of kidnapping in connection with the alleged abduction of Mennonite couple Lloyd and Rosey Friesen on May 31, 2016. Additionally, Mason faces a blackmail charge for allegedly demanding $2,500 weekly from Lloyd Friesen in exchange for protection.  The allegations state that on May 31, 2016, in Belmopan City, Cayo District, Mason and Rhaburn unlawfully detained Lloyd and Rosey Friesen by force. Mason is further accused of making unwarranted monetary demands from Lloyd Friesen under threat.  While Rhaburn remains out on bail, Mason is currently serving a 40-year life sentence for the gruesome murder and beheading of Belmopan pastor Llewellyn Lucas. Due to his incarceration, Mason has been appearing virtually in court rather than in person, whereas Rhaburn has attended proceedings physically.