Double Murder case sent to trial

Charles young Jr.

Two Belize City men will face a jury of their peers for charges in connection to a double murder that occurred earlier this year. On February fourth, seventeen year old Daniel Puerto and thirty-four year old Ian Martinez were killed in a drive-by shooting, while Puerto’s twin brother Darnell was injured. The accused gunmen are twenty year old Charles Young Junior and twenty-three year old Derrick Kuylen. A preliminary inquiry concluded this morning and Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith ruled that there is sufficient evidence to commit Young and Kuylen to stand trial at the Supreme Court.

Derrick Kuylen

They will remain behind bars and their case is scheduled to begin on April sixteenth, 2012.  The shooting occurred at the corner of Hibiscus and Tibruce Streets, where Daniel and Darnell Puerto were standing in front of their house along with Martinez. A brown car pulled up in the area and two men opened fire indiscriminately, instantly killing Daniel and Martinez while Darnell was seriously injured.  Young and Kuylen were initially charged with five counts; Attempted Murder, Dangerous Harm, Use of Deadly Means of Harm and two counts of murder, but they will only be tried for the murder charges.