Kareem Lopez acquitted of Murder after 4 years in jail
Kareem Lopez
Whether or not Kareem Lopez pulled the trigger in the broad daylight murder of Mark Gardiner in 2006 will not be confirmed because his case was thrown out today and Lopez was acquitted of the charge of Murder because the victim’s brother refused to testify. Richard Gardiner, was the witness that the case depended on, so when he indicated to police that he would not appear in court, the defense submitted a no case submission, which was upheld by Justice Michelle Arana. Interestingly, the argument that contributed heavily to that decision was that Richard was not in court to confirm that his brother was in fact dead and that he had identified the body to police prior to the post-mortem. Justice Arana said that Richard should have been brought to court by force because even though Doctor Mario Estradabran tendered the results of the post-mortem into evidence, it could not stand on its own. Attorney Hubert Elrington also argued that the evidence against Lopez is weak; but the judge disagreed despite the fact that Niccanor Fermin, who witnessed the shooting and identified Lopez as the gunman in 2006, was unable to ID him in court today. Fermin claimed that it was because the case took too long to come to court. Still the jurors were directed to enter a not guilty verdict against Lopez just before eleven o’clock this morning, setting the twenty-three year old free after almost four years in jail.
Mark Gardiner
On October sixth, 2006 Mark was riding a bicycle on East Canal heading in the direction of Water Lane at around seven-thirty a.m. And while that was just the start of his day, it was not long before that ride and Mark’s life came to an end. He was pursued by another man who rode up behind him and shot him once in the back of his head. Mark hit the pavement where the two streets meet and from there he was taken to the K.H.M.H. by BERT personnel. By ten-thirty that morning, he succumbed to the injury.
Justice Belizean style, Prosecutorial bungling of cases, witness intimidation slick lawyers. Let us see how long this accused person will remain alive. Justice vigilante style shall prevail.
Why 4 years to hear a murder case, thats just way too long.
AS USUAL IN BELIZE, NO HOMOCIDE NEVER GETS SOLVED. IT IS SAD TO SEE SUCH A WONDERFUL, CARING AND LOVING PERSON LIFE GOES TO WASTE. MARK WAS A EASY GOING PERSON. MY BORTHER WAS HIS BEST FRIEND AND WE BOTH MISS HIM SO MUCH. THEIRS NO NEED TO WORRY MARK; BECAUSE HE WAS SET FREE. BUT WHEN THE REAL JUDGEMENT TIME COME HE WILL SUFFER, JAH NEVER SLEEPS. MAY YOUR SOUL FINALLY R.I.P MARK “BOB” GARDINER. JAH NEW YOU DESERVED TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN BEEN IN THE STREETS OF BELIZE CITY. AS FOR KAREEM LOPEZ YOUR DAY WILL COME.
I think the court system should work 24/7 ,it seem to me after 2 month a murder case don’t go to trail,it is over n the criminal walk.People is in so much fear for their life that murder don’t need a lawyer .to be acquitted of the crime.
I believe its time the entire Judicary sytem in Belize revamp and start anew. The procecutors, judges and police officers need to review their stats and ready to go to trial within 60 days max….My question to the Judicary Committee is: Who is overseeing the system to ensure it works fairly in the name of Justice for victims and their families. Belize wanted human rights, you got!!!!!!!! and unfortunately, this is the results BELIZEANS!
The Prime Minister is a big joke maybe he’s waiting for one of his family member to get murder to make amendments to the laws in Belize so that these punks get executed for taking people’s life.They don’t care to murder someone as a result there shouldn’t be any problem with executing these loooooooooosers.
I would like to see how many cases actually end in a guilty verdict in Belize. I blame the judicial system. It’s just full of Shit. Pay off pay off. A bunch of crooks. And who don’t like it could respond. Mark was a very easy going young man and may God bless his soul. Kareem Lopez sad to say but your case too will probably end up in a not guilty verdict.
wish the law goes back to hang the murderers as years ago. now with this human rights stuff they get away but like this will never stop the killing. start hang them high.
Wow Elgin! That is pretty deep. I can feel your emotions and I respect that when it comes to cold blooded murderers but it is not only the Prime Minister that is responsible to make amendment to the laws. We as a Belizean people should come together as one as voice our concerns and form groups and work towards a better Belize. let our voices be heard in unity!
That lady that stood before the courts in order to get justice… The one whose hsband died fighting for what he believes is right. I hold those people as Dedicated belizeans. We need more like those.
Complaining won’t help ..WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING and take our country out of the hands of the criminals. We POSITIVELY have more good than bad. Witnesses come forward even if it is your own relative or you will live in fear too. You are not protecting and loving your relative you are endangering your whole family including your fellow citizens.
make sense?
I sure do agree that the belize system is mess up and need to be fix really badly,and then again u cannot convict someone if your not sure if he/she the one commit that crime.Give justice where it is due this could be one of own who commit a crime and get off of it.No one family have the best people living in it no one will like to see there love one get covicted for something they did do.this dude Kareem lopez walk free yes but do we no he commit this crime(no)..At Dionnie i no it hurt to loose someone dat ur close to and everybody in life has there turn to die,but always memba this THE WORLD IS A CYCLE,and the young man Mark Gardiner wasn’t any saint himself he did his dirt too cause he take someone life too..GREGORY BATTY..MEMBA THAT..and he WALK FREE TOO.told u the world is round honey..We just have to leave everything in the lord hand he sees and noses everything that occur..BLESSED LOVE AND GUIDANCE TO EVERYONE.
To Kim u need to shut ur a** up!!! U dont know what ur talking about. shut yo beek!!! Seems like u know who kill Mark u seems to know alot!!
To wanna be Jah Child you the 1 need to shut your a** up..stupid i got to knows wat im talking about if i cud say all wat have said in my first comment..dahhhhhh!!!!!! and on top i know the 2 the young man.. them A HOLE. im from the Ghetto and so r u..so don’t play numb like u don’t kno wats going..and again all of us have a rite to voice opinion that’s y i say wat i wanna say in my first comment and if can’t deal with it then I HAVE A FAT A** FOR U TO COME AND BITE..hmmmmmm!!!!…
jah child shut p stupid @**,if u don’t now nothing keep ur mouth shut,mark was heck no angel and if u would see and nw half the stuff he did to the ….. family u would fall bk,so hush,@kim u said it rite thanks alot..
4yrs late but who cares just seeing what was being said about my friend….Everybody has their day yes but we as human beings are not to judge that God alone can do that…an both are no saint yes, but gives no other to talk bad about Kareem, bc just how ya’l could comment say Mark was a great person blah blah and forgetting his bad deeds, Kareem also is a great, loving and wonderful person too…so subtract his bad deeds too if your going to do it for Mark just saying