On June 19th, 2011, BDF Soldier, Rommel Palacio, Sr., was shot multiple times while inside his bathroom after gunmen stormed in looking for his son, Rommel Palacio, Jr. The young man, a crown witness in the murder of Mitchum Heredia, Jr., was not at home but the gunmen opened fire on his father.
Palacio, who was on life support, succumbed to his injuries after being shot 6 times to the body, twice to the head and 4 times to the hands and leg.
On Wednesday, October 24th, two Belize City men, identified as Ashton Anderson and Christopher Sosa, believed to be the gunmen saw their case committed to the Supreme Court for trial in Rommel Palacio’s murder. They will have to answer to the charge for murder when indicted in the January Session of 2012 Supreme Court.
The men, who were unrepresented, appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. The paper committal ended when Prosecutor in the case, Sgt. Egbert Castillo submitted several witness testimonies including that of Palacio’s wife, Tyoris Palacio. Among the statements was that of Cyrilla Palacio, Palacio’s sister as well as those of other relatives including Herbert Palacio, JP Modesto Madrill, police officers including Inspector David Chi, and even one of the accused, Christopher Sosa, who gave a statement in the matter.
Other evidence tendered include documentary exhibits including a firearm report done by Shirley Lino, a Forensic Analyst, a chain of custody forms, warrants for the arrest of the two accused men, identification parade forms, an envelope with pictures of the shooting scene and a post mortem report from the forensic examiner, Dr. Mario Estradabran.
The motive for the shooting of Rommel Palacio, Sr. was believed to be to silence the witness in that murder case of Mitchum Heredia.
