Murder Trial against Earl Baptist Concludes in High Court

A murder trial involving twenty-three-year-old Earl Baptist as a prime suspect in the shooting death of Burrell Boom businessman Leslie Gillett has concluded in the High Court.  Baptist is one of two men who allegedly entered Matilda’s Shop and executed Gillett in January 2022.  A second suspect was never identified.  Tonight, Baptist remains at the Belize Central Prison after appearing before Justice Derick Sylvester earlier today.  The crown is relying on testimonies from Sergeant Santiago Perez, the police officer who retrieved the surveillance footage that captured Gillett’s murder, and Sergeant Rollington Fuller who positively identified Baptist as one of two shooters seen at Matilda’s Shop on the night in question.  However, attorney Leeroy Banner is challenging the crown’s evidence, submitting that footage of the individual that Fuller claims to be Earl Baptist is not clear for anyone to identify with a degree of certainty.  Justice Sylvester has reserved his ruling for June twenty-seventh.