By Belize Live News Staff: The Court of Appeal has upheld the life sentences of Danny Mason, Ernest Castillo, Keiron and Terrence Fernandez, and Ashton Vanegas for the 2017 murder of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas. The men were found guilty in 2020 and had appealed their convictions in March of this year.
Their legal teams, consisting of three attorneys, challenged various aspects of the case, including the validity of a DVR recording, the quality of circumstantial evidence, and alleged procedural inconsistencies.
However, the panel of Appeal judges, after thorough review, produced a 60-page judgment affirming the convictions. They concluded that the prosecution had established its case against each of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, stating, “There has not been a miscarriage of justice on any of the grounds of appeal…Accordingly….The appeals of Castillo, Keiron, Terrence, Vanegas and Mason against their convictions are dismissed and their sentences affirmed.”
This decision marks a significant step in a case that has gripped the nation since the brutal murder of Pastor Lucas. The convicted men still have the option to appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), but it remains uncertain whether they will pursue this final legal avenue.
The family of Pastor Lucas has expressed relief and gratitude for the court’s decision, hoping it will bring closure to this tragic chapter in their lives.
