Judge rules police unlawfully searched truck in gun case

A federal judge has ordered all evidence suppressed in the case against Brian Liz, who has been jailed since 2022 after V.I. Police arrested him for gun possession on St. Thomas.

Liz’s trial was scheduled to begin today. But after issuing the suppression order Thursday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Molloy delayed the trial date to Jan. 13 to provide prosecutors an opportunity to determine whether they want to appeal the ruling. “The District Court Judge’s decision is thoughtful, thorough, and well-reasoned,” Liz’s defense attorney, Dale Lionel Smith, said in a statement provided to The Daily News.

“Importantly, it is consistent with the pertinent decisions in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. My client and his family are very pleased with Chief Judge Molloy’s decision. More than anything Mr. Liz is eager to spend time with his children and to manage his trucking and car rental businesses. We are hopeful that the Government will decide to deploy its manpower and resources elsewhere and not pursue an appeal of the Court’s decision in this matter,” Smith wrote.