Hattieville Man Acquitted of Arson Charges in Belize High Court

An elderly Hattieville man was acquitted of a charge of arson today in the Belize High Court.Sixty-nine-year-old Bernard Moore was charged in 2023 for burning down the home of his neighbor Marlon Longsworth. The trial began on November 12 and today a jury of nine found him not guilty. Prosecutors argued that Moore acted recklessly when he lit the fire, which eventually consumed Longsworth’s home. To prove arson, the Crown had to establish three points: that Longsworth’s house was destroyed by fire that Moore lit the fire, and that Moore was reckless in causing the destruction. Moore admitted to lighting a woodlice nest on fire but maintained that he was clearing his land and had no intention of causing harm. Fire expert Newton Lennon testified during the trial, describing how investigators found evidence linking the fire to Moore’s property. However, Moore’s attorney Aaron Tillett, highlighted gaps in the prosecution’s case, including a lack of photographic evidence showing the fire’s path or the distance between Moore’s and Longsworth’s properties. The jury deliberated for just under two hours before returning with the not-guilty verdict.