Hung Jury Declared in Trial of Two Police Officers Accused of Sexual Misconduct

This just in: A hung jury has been declared in the case of two police officers Jason Shawn, and Leslie Martinez. The jury of 9, consisting of 8 women and 1 man, could not reach a verdict so justice Nanton declared a hung jury.

Allegations made against them were that the officers, on April 5, 2020, in Belize City, willfully abused their authority. They subjected a couple who were having sex in an old, abandoned home to continue having sex while they video recorded them. Subsequently the video was posted on the police WhatsApp chat and later went viral after being viewed by many.

The trial of the cops started last week, Monday, October 20 and the crown called several witnesses, including the couple. 

   The crown also called a police witness, Anthony Villamil, then 20, now 25, who was given immunity from the DPP’s office to testify against his colleague. In June of this year, before the commencement of the trial, the DPP office withdrew the charge against Villamil. He testified and told the court that when he saw the other two officers video-taping the couple having sex, he left and went into the police mobile outside.

 In their defence, both Martinez and Shaw told the court that they did not force anyone to have sexual intercourse.