Attorney Oscar Selgado Stands Trial for Abetment to Commit Murder

Attorney Oscar Selgado was charged back in July 2019, for the crime of abetment to commit murder. Selgado’s trial began today inside the High Court. Back in 2019, he was accused of asking a client to carry out a hit for him. The client in this case was Giovanni Ramirez, a man who was charged back in 2018 by Dangriga police for possession of a prohibited firearm and kept ammunition without a gun license. Ramirez reportedly handed over to police a recording of a conversation between himself and Selgado, detailing the request.  That recording was reportedly being held by the Supreme Court registrar as part of the evidence for this trial. This morning, the registrar took the stand and explained that she handed over the case files to Justice Susanne Lamb in March 2022. She explained that in February 2023 she received instructions that the disk which contained the recording had gone missing. She testified saying it has not been located since. The woman that Selgado allegedly wanted dead is Marlyn Barnes. She was the first witness that the Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl Vidal called to the stand.  Barnes testified saying that she filed a complaint to the General Legal Counsel against Selgado. She also asserted that she had visited the Ombudsman office to seek help with some matters at a time when Selgado was a legal representative in the office. Barnes contended that she had more than five appointments with Selgado and during one of those appointments she confronted him about an allegation of sexual assault of a minor against him. Former Ombudsman Lionel Arzu also took the stand and confirmed that there was an allegation against Selgado. The nature of the allegation was that Selgado assaulted a male minor who was interning in the office. Arzu further revealed that Non- Disclosure Agreement was signed between Selgado and the parties involved. Shanidi Chell-Urbina, the secretary at the General Legal Counsel at the time also took the stand. She recalled receiving Barnes’s complaint at the GLC office. She revealed that Barnes’ alleged that Selgado, conducted himself in an unethical way, told mistruths, failed to produce and  legally damaged his client. Urbina told the court that the counsel ruled that there was a case to be heard and that hearing dates were set. But, after numerous adjournments, Barnes says her complaints were never heard. Following today’s hearing, Selgado approached reporters outside the courtroom and had this to say.

Oscar Selgado

Oscar Selgado, Accused of Abetment to Commit Murder

“What is it that the media wants to ask me to comment upon a case that is before the judge, to comment upon a case that is sub-judice. I am not afraid of the media. I have nothing to hide. What I want people to understand is to respect the privacy of citizens, respect my privacy and I don’t want to see you back at this court until the case is finished. When the case is finished I will give you an interview and I will tell you what I think. But of now, I cannot comment, Cheryl- Lynn Vidal cannot comment, nobody cannot comment upon a case that is before the court. Learn your jobs, do your jobs properly.”

Paul Lopez

“Sir, we can be out here sir.”