Horrific kidnapping and robbery details revealed in Belmopan Supreme Court case
Oliver Rodriguez
In the Belmopan Supreme Court today, a twenty year old resident relived a horrific kidnapping and robbery, for which twenty-three year old Oliver Rodriguez and twenty-seven year old Solomon Marin Jr. are on trial. The victim, Leon Castillo, testified that at around three p.m. on August twenty-sixth, 2006, he made a withdrawal at a FirstCaribbean Bank ATM and as he exited, he saw someone moving around behind his vehicle. According to Castillo, he went to see who it was, but came face to face with a sawed off shot gun. He further alleges that Rodriguez held him at gunpoint while Marin took his vehicle keys and ordered him to get into the back seat.
Solomon Marin Jr.
The men allegedly drove Castillo to the Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology showground’s and stole his wallet and jewelry. A third man then joined the assailants and they headed for the Hummingbird Highway, with Castillo still in the vehicle. Things took a terrifying turn when Castillo was taken out of the vehicle on a feeder road and ordered to get on his knees while the unidentified assailant pointed the gun at him, saying that they would teach him a lesson. But instead of shooting him, the men left Castillo tied to a nearby tree and took off in his vehicle. With that testimony, Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez closed his case. Rodriguez and Marin flatly denied all allegations against and their case was adjourned until next week in the Belmopan Supreme Court.
The witness should be applauded for going to court to testify. He’s a rarity among Belizeans these days.
The way to remain a victim is to be afraid to testify; the way to clean up the country is for victims to be brave and testify so the criminals can be sent where they belong, behind bars.
I fully agree with Storm.
This just goes to show how these guys take the judicial system for a joke. They are clearly responsible for these crimes and still have the heart to deny alligations. The victim is a close friend of mine and I can say that the horendous ordeal he underwent and the traumatic after effects he had to endure is more than enough to put these guys away. All the evidence for a fact point clearly to those who are accused and no where else.
There comes a time in every man’s life where he admits his wrong doing and accepts the consequences of his actions. These guys are clearly still boys that made stupid decisions that wil now be followed by serious consequences. It is almost 5 years to the month that this serious crime w/ a deadly weapon occured and its sad to say and see that it has taken so long for the wheels of justice to begin to start moving on this case.
We can only hope and pray that this case sees a favorable outcome and not be throw out as so many cases have been. I applaud the victim for testifying as well, as he deserves justice as no one should ever be subjected to such treatment. He is a proud Belmopanese and more so a proud Belizean as he is a role model to many youths and a positive light for Belmopan.
well first off i would like to say that people do have to pay for the wrong things they do in life. but in life we need to realize that our mouth is a powerful thing and we cannot take back what we already say. i don’t agree with the outcome of the case because i don’t think it was done appropriately. don’t get me wrong i know both the victim and the ones who did the crime. but if it was not for Solomon Marin Jr. instructing not to kill Leon Castillo he would never b present to day so for that i think it should have bin considered strongly!!!!!!!!! this act never should have bin committed from the start, to avoid these outcome but like i said. Leon should have consider Solomon Marin Jr. and regardless of this happening should be thanking him for being alive today. this could happen to anyone. any one could be a victim to a crime or the once to commit a crime no one can judge the future. and for this i don’t agree with any of the above comments because all they want is for the men to be behind bars. there are a lot of serious crimes in the streets that should b handled different. but for most part our justice system is weak. the only reason they are wishing and wanting for these person doing the act is because they did the crime yes but also because they don’t know them. every one is speaking on behalf of Leon. well as i mention i know both Solomon Marin and Leon Castillo very well. and i am trying to luck at the case on a balance point of view. if a week from now, Storm, BZN2DBONE, or Pheonix family member commit a crime they will b as sad as those related to both Leon and Solomon Jr. but only its not happening to them so they talk the way they talk. in Belize we are living in a mirror box were things happen and continue to happen. we must all b greatfull to survive.