Benyahti Brandon to Stand Trial for Murder and Attempted Murder

Twenty-seven-year-old Benyahti Jareai Brandon has been committed to stand trial in the High Court for murder and attempted murder.  Brandon, a resident of La Democracia Village, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where his preliminary inquiry began and concluded on Friday.  The Police Prosecutor submitted more than fifteen witness statements and thirteen documentary exhibits that the prosecution intends to rely on at trial. The evidence includes a Scenes of Crime report, a post-mortem report, chain-of-custody documents, a caution statement and interview notes attributed to Brandon, as well as a medico-legal form for the surviving victim.  Brandon is accused of the February 3 shooting death of 19-year-old Paul Nigel Smith Junior in La Democracia Village. He is also charged with the attempted murder of Tyrece Lewis Allen, who was shot in the knee during the same incident. After being given an alibi warning, Brandon provided the court with the names of two men whom he intends to call as witnesses during his trial.  The case was committed to the October Session of the High Court, scheduled to begin on October 7. Brandon remains on remand pending trial.