High Court reserves decision on the no-case submission for the Elmer Nah triple murder trial

The High Court has adjourned proceedings in the triple murder trial of Elmer Nah after the defense filed a formal no-case submission, leaving the presiding judge to determine whether the accused must present a defense. When the matter was called up today before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, there were no oral arguments from either side. Instead, the defense, led by attorney Dr. Lynden Jones, submitted written arguments totaling 328 pages. The court will review the submission and deliver its ruling tomorrow morning at 9:00.  Dr. Jones is asking the court to dismiss the case on the basis that the prosecution has not established sufficient evidence to require Nah to answer to the charges. Central to the defense’s position is the argument that, despite evidence being admitted during trial, proper identification linking Nah to the crime was not established.  The Crown, represented by prosecutor Terrence Williams, is relying on evidence previously admitted during a voir dire hearing earlier in the lengthy trial. That ruling allowed the court to accept the recorded statement of the prosecution’s main witness, given prior to her death, along with other physical exhibits presented by investigators, including boots reportedly found in Nah’s pickup and a headlight alleged to have been used during the commission of the murders.  Following today’s adjournment, Justice Pilgrim indicated he will carefully examine the extensive written submissions before deciding whether the trial proceeds to a defense stage or ends at this point.  Elmer Nah was remanded to the Belize Central Prison pending the decision. The judge also instructed defense counsel to be prepared to begin presenting a defense should the no-case application be denied.