Belizean Businessman Wanted for Manslaughter in USA, 20 Years Later

Osmar Correo

Forty-eight-year-old Osmar Correo, a businessman from Belmopan, had been living in the United States until 1998 when he reportedly fled from Texas while out on bail for a charge of intoxication manslaughter.  The incident occurred over twenty years ago and Correo is accused of killing two persons and injuring four others.  Tonight, he is being sought for extradition to stand trial in a U.S. courtroom.  Earlier today, he appeared in the presence of attorney Bryan Neal before the Chief Magistrate where over ninety pages of evidence were admitted into evidence against Correo.  The state is being represented by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, while the Attorney General’s Ministry is being represented by Senior Crown Counsel Stacy Martinez.  This morning, Idelso Leslie, a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took the stand as a witness.  In his testimony, Leslie identified to the court a bundle of documents that were prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting Correo’s extradition.  Following today’s proceedings, attorney Bryan Neal shared a few comments on the matter.

Bryan Neal

Bryan Neal, Attorney-at-law

“Today was just a formality in which documents were tendered that were allegedly sent by the United States.  I was given an opportunity to cross-examine the consular officer that accepted the documents and I found that the way the documents were handled leaves a lot of open questions.  So those questions were put to the witness and we now have until December twenty-second for the Crown to put in their submissions and then we have until January twenty-second for me to reply and we will be back in court on January twenty-fifth to make oral arguments before the Chief Magistrate. The allegations is that over twenty years ago, he was involved in an accident in the United States in which some people lost their lives.  And so the American government has requested that he be extradited back to the United States to stand trial for that crime.”