No Case Submission Refused in Oscar Selgado Trial
Oscar Selgado
Attorney Oscar Selgado was back in court today to hear Justice Nigel Pilgrim’s verdict on a no case submission by his attorney Adolph Lucas. Selgado and his attorney did not receive the news they hoped for, as Justice Pilgrim wasted no time in handing down his ruling. The no case submission was denied by the High Court. Following the verdict, Selgado took to the witness stand to testify. He was then cross examined by the Director of Public Prosecution. News Five Paul Lopez was present in court. He tells us how it all played out.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Attorney Oscar Selgado returned to the High Court this morning for a verdict on a no case submission by his attorney, Adolph Lucas. Selgado’s trial for abetment to commit murder has been ongoing since October 2023, before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. The matter, which is nearing conclusion, has seen both the defense and the crown close their arguments. In response to a no case submission filed at the end of the last hearing, this morning Justice Pilgrim ruled that the application to withdraw the charge against Selgado is refused by the court.
Justice Pilgrim considered the primary evidence established in this trial, those being seven recorded phone conversations purportedly between Giovanni Ramirez and Selgado. Ramirez is the individual Selgado allegedly contracted to kill Marlyn Barnes, a woman who filed a complaint against him before the General Legal Council. In his ruling, Justice Pilgrim also considered the testimonies of Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and former Inspector of Police Wilfredo Ferrufino. Both men testified that they are familiar with Selgado and that police received those phone recordings with Selgado from Ramirez. As we have reported, those recordings would later go missing.
Following the ruling, Selgado was given three options, remain silent, make a statement from the dock, or provide a testimony from the witness stand. Selgado opted to speak from the witness stand. The fifty-four-year-old attorney initially refuted claims by the Commissioner of Police that they made contact with each other twenty-three years ago when Selgado was a Belize Defense Force soldier. Selgado further argued that when Williams became the commanding officer at Eastern Division, he had no reason to contact him. As for the phone recordings that were placed on two disks by Ferrufino and handed over to the court before going missing, Selgado says he was never provided any copies of those disks during his disclosure hearing. Selgado maintained his innocence and his argument that he does not know Giovanni Ramirez, nor did he contract Martinez to murder Marlyn Barnes, as is alleged.
During the Crown’s cross examination of Selgado, he referred to the charges as fabricated and further denied receiving the recordings during disclosure. Selgado also told the court that he has been very distressed by these proceedings and barely maintaining his sanity. At the close of her cross examination, Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl-Lyn Vidal suggested to Selgado that his emotional burden is being cause by his guilt in this matter. He contended that he is not guilty. The DPP responded saying, quote, “off all the untruths you have told from the witness stand, that is the biggest”, unquote. Selgado disagreed.
Reporter
“It is a win for you that the judge did not throw out the case
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“We don’t speak in those terms”
Reporter
“Even a small win?”
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“We don’t use those word.”
Reporter
“But it is encouraging that the judge did not throw out the case today?”
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“We did not think that the judge was in danger of being thrown out to use your words?”
Reporter
“What follows now in the case?”
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“Addresses.”
Reporter
“How much longer will the case go on?”
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“We return on the thirteenth and we will complete our addresses on that day and then the judge will set a date for him to give his verdict on that matter.”
Reporter
“You said of all the untruths you said from the witness stand this was your biggest.”
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
Yes, you quoted me correctly, what is your question
Reporter
No I was just trying to get clarity on exactly what you said.
Cheryl-Lyn Vidal, DPP
“Yes.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
