…While another is committed to stand trial for murder in Supreme Court

Paul Martinez

Also in court, a Belize City youth was committed today to stand trial for murder in the September session of the Supreme Court. Eighteen year old Paul Martinez is accused of the stabbing murder of Raheem Smith in 2012. And late Thursday evening, when the teenager appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, his case was committed to the Supreme Court. Martinez, who was unrepresented, chose not to challenge any of the police evidence against him and instead told the court that he wanted the matter to be sent up to the Supreme Court for trial. Martinez was further remanded to the Belize Central Prison until September sixteenth when his case at the Supreme Court. Martinez is accused of stabbing Smith after they allegedly had an argument about a bicycle. A fight ensued in which Smith ended up punching Martinez to his face, and a witness saw Martinez leave the area and return with a long knife which was used it to stab and kill Smith.