Murder Charges Discontinued After Prosecution Unable to Locate Key Witness

Two men accused of murder and attempted murder have had the charges against them discontinued after the prosecution was unable to locate its main witness. Twenty-eight-year-old Ulide Allen and 27-year-old Marquis Conorquie appeared before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim today for what was expected to be the start of their trial. Instead, the Crown entered a nolle prosequi after the survivor in the shooting, Joshua Gillett could not be found to testify. Justice Pilgrim explained that the discontinuance does not amount to an acquittal. The Director of Public Prosecutions may bring the charges again if the necessary evidence becomes available. Allen and Conorquie were charged in connection with the June 2024 murder of 32-year-old labourer Stanley Jerome Moore and the attempted murder of Gillett. Police say that on June 23, 2024, Gillett was driving a BMW with Moore in the passenger seat when two men on a motorcycle pulled alongside the vehicle near Mahogany Street Extension and Amandala Drive. The motorcycle passenger allegedly fired several shots into the car before the pair escaped toward Amandala Drive.  Moore was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was found dead inside the vehicle. Gillett was also treated for gunshot injuries. Allen was released, while Conorquie was returned to the Belize Central Prison, where he is serving a sentence of one year and five months for armed robbery. Conorquie has appealed for that conviction and is awaiting the hearing of his appeal.