High Court sets May 29 as the verdict date in Elmer Nah’s triple murder trial

The High Court in Belize City has set May 29 as the date for its decision in the high-profile triple murder trial involving former police officer Elmer Nah.  The ruling will be delivered by Nigel Pilgrim, who, earlier today, reserved his judgment after hearing final oral submissions from both the prosecution and the defense.  The 40-year-old accused is facing murder charges following the December 31, 2020, killing of three members of the Ramnarace family, Vivian, John and David Ramnarace, in Belmopan.  During today’s proceedings, the court heard oral submissions from the prosecution, led by Jamaican special prosecutor Terrence Williams, and the defense, represented by attorney Lynden Jones.  Justice Pilgrim explained that his decision will require careful consideration, noting that the court has received extensive written submissions from both sides. According to the judge, the defense submitted more than 600 pages of written arguments, while the Crown filed roughly half that amount.  Defense attorney Dr. Jones delivered a brief oral submission lasting about sixteen minutes, during which he asked the court to return a verdict of not guilty on all three counts. He argued that while the prosecution has established that a terrible crime occurred, it has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Nah was responsible.  Jones emphasized that the burden of proof lies entirely with the prosecution and that Nah remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty. He further argued that identification evidence presented by the Crown carries a significant risk of error, particularly because it relied heavily on statements attributed to Vivian Ramnarace while she was hospitalized after the attack.  According to the defense, the conditions under which the statement was taken, following a traumatic event in which she witnessed family members being shot and suffered injuries herself, could have affected her ability to reliably identify the shooter. Jones also questioned the reliability of what he described as recognition based on media exposure, noting that Ramnarace had reportedly seen Nah in news reports connected to a separate incident involving a drug plane landing.  The defense also challenged circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution, including references to items such as a headlight and a pair of rubber boots, arguing that these elements do not form a reliable chain of evidence linking Nah to the crime.  In response, prosecutor Terrence Williams told the court that the Crown’s case rests on three key elements: supporting evidence for visual identification, the application of the Turnbull guidelines regarding identification evidence, and circumstantial evidence he described as strong and consistent.  Williams argued that Ramnarace’s identification of the shooter should not be dismissed as a fleeting observation. He also pointed to inconsistencies in statements given by Nah regarding his whereabouts before and after the shooting, describing them as “radically different accounts.”  The prosecutor further submitted that the Crown’s case does not depend solely on the statement attributed to Vivian Ramnarace, noting that details she reportedly provided were consistent with available video footage.  Williams concluded that the evidence presented is sufficient for the court to find Nah guilty of the three counts of murder.  During today’s hearing, Williams appeared virtually, while Nah and his attorney were present in court before Justice Pilgrim.  Notably, family members of Vivian Ramnarace, including her parents and a cousin, were in court for the proceedings. The family has indicated that they intend to speak publicly on the day the verdict is delivered.