2010 Yaris Hatchback Brake Light Replacement

[WillieLloyd]

The original Toyota manual characterizes being able to pop off the panel in the hatch, doing a quarter turn, then removing the brake light to replace with a new one. Unfortunately, the wiring provides so little excess that it seems impossible to withdraw the bulb from the lens to be able to replace it.

The alternate approach would be to remove the lens from the chassis and replace the bulb from the outside of the car (rather than from the trunk). I removed the two, 10mm nuts and tried to lever the lens off it's mounting, but there seems to be something it is holding on to. I'd rather not apply too much pressure and risk snapping off something important.

Could anyone say which is the proper approach? If it is the second option, any suggestions as to how much pressure to apply and where?

Thanks,
Willie