Man Freed in Double Murder Case After Insufficient Evidence Found

Kenner Gomez was granted his freedom in the Dangriga High Court yesterday after facing a double murder charge since August 2021.  The 30-year-old was on remand for the killing of 46-year-old, Medardo Canelo and his nephew, 33-year-old, Lawrence Canelo.  Inside the courtroom, the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, meaning that there was insufficient evidence to pursue the murder trial.  The Canelo men were fatally shot inside the Flash Bar Cool Spot on Cayo Street in Punta Gorda Town on August 12, 2021.  The victims were reportedly tallying the day’s sales when they were ambushed by a gunman.  Also injured in the incident was Aura Pacham.   Charges related to Pacham’s injuries were also withdrawn by the DPP.  Gomez was fingered for the double homicide and was charged a few days after the incident.  In the case of a nolle prosequi, the office of the DPP has the option to reopen the case if new evidence is uncovered.  According to our archives, this is not Gomez’ first criminal charge. Back in 2014, he was the main suspect in the 2014 murder of a 30-year-old woman in Punta Gorda Town.  In this matter, Janice Vargas was fatally shot on Mother’s Day in front of her two-year-old daughter. At the time, police sought Gomez for questioning, and later charged him in October 2014 after he led police to the suspected murder weapon. He was sentenced to five years for the unlicensed firearm, but the murder case had also ended in a nolle prosequi.