Murder Accused Challenges Eyewitness Evidence in Gaston Barrow Case

An unrepresented murder accused has challenged the prosecution’s evidence against him, claiming that three alleged eyewitnesses did not identify him as the person who fired the fatal shots.  Thirty-one-year-old taxi operator Joseph Gabourel Vaccaro has been committed to stand trial at the High Court for the September 2025 murder of 18-year-old Gaston Barrow. Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola ordered that the case proceed during the October 2026 session, which is scheduled to begin on October 7.  Vaccaro has been on remand for almost one year. During his preliminary inquiry, the prosecution submitted more than seventy statements, reports and other documentary evidence. These reportedly included photographs, DVDs, chain-of-custody forms, warrants and a wanted poster.  Vaccaro, who was not represented by an attorney, made oral submissions challenging several witness statements. He argued that three people described as eyewitnesses did not name him or identify him as the shooter. Vaccaro therefore questioned why he had been charged with Barrow’s murder.  The Chief Magistrate explained that the Magistrates’ Court was not conducting the murder trial or deciding whether Vaccaro was guilty. The purpose of the preliminary inquiry was to determine whether the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to the High Court. His objections were noted, and the case concluded by paper committal.  The charge arose from a shooting at the Old Belize compound on the George Price Highway on September 25, 2025. Police say Barrow was travelling in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Hank Carr, while two women were seated in the back.  Investigators allege that a man exited a taxi parked on the compound and opened fire, injuring Barrow and Carr. The shooter reportedly returned to the taxi and escaped in the direction of the police checkpoint.  Barrow was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Carr was treated for gunshot injuries and later released. Police say he declined to provide a statement about the shooting.  Investigators subsequently reviewed surveillance footage, which they say led them to detain Vaccaro. He was arraigned on October 6, 2025, and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. In July of this year, he was provided with 154 pages of disclosure, along with five compact discs and photographs.