B.D.F. Driver to be Sentenced for Knocking Down Boy

Hubert Martinez

Civilian driver for the Belize Defence Force, forty-year-old Hubert Martinez, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter by negligence. He admits causing the death of three-year-old Jahston Terry on December fourth, 2013. The toddler was walking on the side walk with his older brother Jaheem on Cemetery Road near the Pound Yard Bridge when a white pickup truck driven by Martinez ran them over, crushing Jahston’s head and injuring Jaheem, for which he was also charged with negligent wounding. Martinez, represented by Bryan Neal, apologized for the incident, which court prosecutor Rene Montero indicated was not caused by overuse of alcohol nor drugs as tests proved negative.  Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Williams has reserved her sentencing upon Martinez for February fourteenth, 2018.