Murder Trial of Joseph Vacaro Falls Through as Prosecution Drops Case

The murder trial of twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Vacaro fell through today after the prosecution abandoned the case against him. Vacaro appeared in the Belize High Court before Justice Derrick Sylvestre, charged for the 2019 murder of Chinese businessman Zheng Cheng Liu. In court today, prosecutor Riis Cattouse entered a nolle prosequi, after being unable to secure the testimony of the crown’s main witness. The court had granted the prosecution time to locate the witness on several occasions, however, the witness was reportedly in hiding because he is in fear for his life. With that, Vaccaro was free to go. Zheng Cheng Liu had gone to Mile 4 on the George Price Highway on November 26, 2019, after a friend called him for help due to mechanical problems with his vehicle. When leaving the area he was fatally shot.