Ulide Allen, Marquis Conorquie granted bail after two years on remand for murder of Stanley Moore; Witness fails to show up to testify

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The murder trial of two Belize City men was postponed on Thursday after the prosecution’s main witness failed to appear at the High Court, despite reportedly assuring Crown Counsel earlier in the day that he would testify.

Ulide Allen, 28, and Marquis Conorquie, 26, are jointly charged with the June 23, 2024 murder of 32-year-old labourer Stanley Jerome Moore.

Their trial was scheduled to begin before Justice Nigel Pilgrim on Thursday morning. However, the Crown informed the court that its principal witness had not arrived and requested time for police to locate him.

When efforts to find the witness proved unsuccessful, the prosecution applied for an adjournment. Justice Pilgrim postponed the trial until September 16 and 17, 2026, when it is expected to begin and conclude.

Since both men have been on remand for more than two years, the judge granted them bail in the interest of fairness. Each man was offered bail in the sum of $16,000, supported by four sureties of $4,000 each.

Allen was able to secure his release. Conorquie, however, was returned to the Belize Central Prison because he is presently serving a sentence of one year and five months for robbery.

His attorney, Ronell Gonzalez, told the court that Conorquie has appealed that conviction and is awaiting the outcome. He therefore cannot be released on the murder bail unless the robbery conviction or sentence is overturned.

The bail conditions require Allen and Conorquie to attend every High Court hearing, report to the Mahogany Street Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and remain indoors between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

They must also surrender their travel documents, refrain from applying for replacements without the court’s permission and remain within the country unless authorized by a High Court judge.

The men were ordered to remain at least 100 yards away from the prosecution’s main witness and must not contact or interfere with any Crown witness, either personally, through another person or by social media.

Justice Pilgrim warned that their bail could be revoked if they breach any condition or are charged with or convicted of another offence while on release.

Moore was fatally shot on the afternoon of June 23, 2024, while travelling in the front passenger seat of a silver BMW driven by 27-year-old fisherman Joshua Gillett.

Police said the men were travelling from Central American Boulevard toward Oleander Street when two men on a motorcycle pulled alongside the vehicle near the intersection of Mahogany Street Extension and Amandala Drive.

The motorcycle’s passenger allegedly produced a firearm and fired several shots into the BMW before the attackers escaped toward Amandala Drive.

Gillett drove to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where police found Moore’s body inside the vehicle. Gillett was also suffering from gunshot injuries and was treated in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.

Investigators recovered a nine-millimetre Aguila Luger-brand expended shell from the shooting scene. Blood samples and other fragments were also collected from the damaged BMW in the hospital parking lot.

Allen is represented by attorney Michael Peyrefitte, while Gonzalez represents Conorquie.

The post Ulide Allen, Marquis Conorquie granted bail after two years on remand for murder of Stanley Moore; Witness fails to show up to testify appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.