Main Witness in Oscar Selgado Case Afraid to Testify

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

The legal proceedings against attorney Oscar Selgado continued today before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Selgado is charged with aiding and abetting the commission of murder against Marilyn Barnes. Oral submissions with respect to the voir dire continued today.  The voir dire aims to ascertain the court’s reliance on Giovanni Ramirez’s statement. Ramirez is the Belize City man who claims that Selgado allegedly attempted to hire him to murder Marilyn Barnes. While Ramirez provided investigators with a statement and an audio recording, he is reluctant to testify due to fear. He says that if he testifies, he will be murdered. However, Selgado’s attorney told the court that Williams should not be in fear because he is a gang member. Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal spoke to News 5 briefly after today’s session.

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“We simply made oral submissions in relation to the Crown’s application to tender the statement of the witness who is in fear. So the judge has reserve his ruling until the first of December.”

Hipolito Novelo

“The defendant’s position is that Mr. Williams, Giovanni, should not be in fear of his life because he is a gang member.”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

“I believe you sat in court you and you listened to the submissions, Hipolito. That’s all I have to say.”

The judge will hand down his ruling on December first.