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After four months of trial, the case against two Belizean residents, twenty-five-year-old Tracey Betancourt, a resident of Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro and Amara Street resident, and thirty-eight-year-old Leon Walford, concluded today with a guilty verdict against Walford. That’s because the first defendant, Tracey Betancourt, was a no-show in court today for her murder verdict. […]
Written on July 28, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
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People & Places |
Comments Off on Tracey Betancourt is Wanted By Police Following Bench Warrant
Life imprisonment was the sentence handed down late this evening against twenty-seven-year-old Paul Jex Junior, a father of two, who was convicted of raping a twenty-one-year-old woman last week in December 2015. Relatives of Jex Junior reacted to the sentence of life imprisonment when it was announced in the court room of Justice Sandcroft late this […]
Written on July 28, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
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People & Places |
Comments Off on Paul Jex Jr. is Sentenced to Life in Prison
The matter of the fatal traffic accident on the night of Sunday, July seventeenth, when fifty-eight-year-old Sherwin Leslie was knocked down and killed by a vehicle driven by the Prime Minister’s driver, also came up. As was reported, on that night, Edwin Hill was driving on the Philip Goldson Highway when between miles twenty-four and […]
Written on July 27, 2022 | Posted in
Auto Accidents,
Law |
Comments Off on ComPol: Investigation into Fatal Accident Suggests P.M.’s Driver Not at Fault
He has been away from Belize for over a year, reportedly to seek medical attention, but he is wanted by the state to face a charge of Willful Oppression Contrary to the Criminal Code. The charge followed several allegations of abuse of power that were made against the former minister. When he failed to show […]
Written on July 27, 2022 | Posted in
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Former Minister Rene Montero Back; Police to Levy Charge
Today, Jasmine Hartin walked up the stairs of the Supreme Court for an indictment hearing before Justice Ricardo Sandcroft. The hearing was in reference to the manslaughter by negligence charge on the Canadian national for the shooting death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott, which occurred on May twenty-eighth, 2021. During the proceedings this morning, Hartin pled […]
Written on July 14, 2022 | Posted in
Defense,
Law |
Comments Off on Jasmine Hartin Pleads Not Guilty in Indictment Hearing
Wendell Thurton Junior was released from custody on Tuesday, following a decision of the Supreme Court, after pleading guilty to abetment to murder and abetment to attempted murder. This is in the case of a fatal stabbing incident in January 2016 that claimed the life of thirty-seven-year-old Ian Blair. Thurton, along with two other suspects, […]
Written on July 13, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Heredia Family Disappointed with Outcome of Ian Blair’s Murder Case
A man was found guilty this afternoon of the murder of his uncle, and he will be sentenced later this month along with a friend who was also convicted of the same crime. Nineteen-year-old Raheem Budran and twenty-one-year-old Kareem Eaghan, Junior, were both found guilty today of the murder of forty-three-year-old Shane Budran. The incident […]
Written on July 6, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured,
Law |
Comments Off on Man Found Guilty of Uncle’s Murder; His Friend Is Also Convicted
Thirty-six-year-old Allyson Major was shot and killed while being pursued by Belize City police in July 2019. The incident happened in the downtown area where officers on mobile patrol gave chase when they reportedly observed Major tossing a bag out of his vehicle in the vicinity of Southern Foreshore. The hot pursuit led them down […]
Written on July 4, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cpl. Kent Martinez Walks from Allyson Major Manslaughter Case
Attorney Oscar Selgado who represented Corporal Kent Martinez in the matter, told reporters after the trial that there was simply insufficient evidence to convict Corporal Martinez for the charge that was brought against him. Oscar Selgado, Attorney-at-law “It was a case before a jury. Corporal Kent Martinez was placed before a jury of his […]
Written on July 4, 2022 | Posted in
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People & Places |
Comments Off on Insufficient Evidence Leads to Martinez’s Manslaughter Acquittal
Convicted murderers, William Danny Mason, Ashton Vanegas, Terrence Fernandez, and Ernest Castillo were back inside the Belmopan Supreme Court today. They stand accused of the May thirty-first, 2016 alleged kidnapping of business man Lloyd Thiessen and his wife in the Belmopan area. The Thiessens had reported their abduction before fleeing the country in fear of […]
Written on July 4, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Convicted Murderers William Danny Mason Et.al Faces Kidnapping Allegations
Rodriquez’s client, Ashton Vanegas was sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving thirty-five years in connection with the July 2016 murder of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas. Vanegas and four other men were convicted back in July of 2020. Vanegas’ attorney is appealing his client’s conviction. Today we asked him for an […]
Written on July 4, 2022 | Posted in
Crime,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Attorney Norman Rodriquez Appeals Ashton Vanegas’ Life Sentence
In the intervening time since the petition signatures were submitted to the Governor General and subsequently the Elections and Boundaries Department for verification, there has been a lull about the controversial cannabis referendum. It is not to suggest that work isn’t taking place in the background, however, the much talked about national vote has gone […]
Written on June 22, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
Law |
Comments Off on Will There Be a Cannabis Referendum in September?
The June session of the Supreme Court commenced today and it was anticipated that Canadian national Jasmine Hartin would have been at court. News Five has confirmed with attorney Dickie Bradley, that the trial date for the woman charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of Superintendent Henry Jemmott has not been set as yet. […]
Written on June 13, 2022 | Posted in
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on No Trial Date Yet for Hartin; Andrew Ashcroft Moves to Turks & Caicos with Kids
Earlier this weekend, the Cabinet announced its decision to defer any fee associated with the Trade License Bill for local entertainers while consultations continue. Cabinet says that in the interim it will conduct further consultations to develop incentives for the creative sector. Earlier this evening, we asked PM Briceño about this latest decision. Prime […]
Written on May 27, 2022 | Posted in
Art & Culture,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on PM On Cabinet Decision to Hold on Entertainers Tax
The number of active COVID-19 cases continues to spiral upwards. Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness reported a total of one hundred and ninety eight newly confirmed cases. These are cases identified over the weekend, between the twenty-first and twenty-third of May. The Ministry of Health and Wellness says it continues to encourage Belizeans […]
Written on May 23, 2022 | Posted in
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on COVID 19 Positive Cases Continue to Rise
A promising young attorney from Orange Walk Town was called to the bar this morning. The brief ceremony was held virtually due to COVID-19 protocols. Nonetheless, Dovini Chell’s entire family made the trip to Belize City to attend her swearing in as she was called upon by seasoned attorney Derek Courtenay. Dovini now joins her […]
Written on May 20, 2022 | Posted in
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Chell Sisters, Attorneys-at-law, From Orange Walk
Friday’s eloquent speeches in the House of Representatives after Minister of Human Development Dolores Balderamos-Garcia presented the paper recommending that the late Nora Parham be granted a posthumous pardon were all well-received in the public domain. But we asked the minister, when we caught up with her at an event on Sunday, what protects the […]
Written on May 16, 2022 | Posted in
Featured,
Law,
People & Places,
Social Issues |
Comments Off on Same Laws, Different Tolerance Now for Domestic Violence
Over the weekend the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor and Local Government issued a release on the Trade Licensing Bill 2022 to clarify what they say is erroneous and misleading representation on social media. It is a two-page document that highlights eleven points. Among the many questions being asked is whether roadside vendors […]
Written on May 16, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on G.O.B. Offers Clarity on Trade Licensing Bill 2022
The Government of Belize introduced a bill to repeal the Trade Licensing Act, Chapter sixty-six of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020, to make way for the implementation of a reformed trade license regime. According to Oscar Requeña, the Minister of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development says the trade license regime will […]
Written on May 13, 2022 | Posted in
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on New Trade License Reform Act Brought to House After Eight Years Consultations
A new piece of legislation that will allow government to explore the prospect of expanding the cruise tourism sector to southern Belize is expected to be introduced in parliament on Friday. According to FECTAB, a proposed bill will be brought before the House of Representatives tomorrow for first reading. Once the bill has been read […]
Written on May 12, 2022 | Posted in
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on FECTAB Objects to New Proposed Law to Expand Cruise Tourism
When News Five pressed FECTAB President David Almendarez if he has gotten an opportunity to peruse the draft legislation, he abruptly chose not to respond to our question. He does take umbrage, however, with the notion of relocating cruise tourism from its central location in Belize City. Isani Cayetano “Have you by any chance […]
Written on May 12, 2022 | Posted in
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on David Almendarez Dodges Questions About Proposed Law
The Belize Peace Movement held another press conference today to provide an update on a recent decision by Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana not to strike out the re-districting case that is before the Supreme Court. Attorneys Arthur Saldivar and Michelle Trapp were joined by Hubert Enriquez and several others from B.P.M. to discuss the […]
Written on May 10, 2022 | Posted in
Featured,
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Supreme Court Decides Against Striking Out Re-districting Case
According attorney Arthur Saldivar, who is representing the Belize Peace Movement in this matter, decisions rendered by the court should be progressive. In the context of the pending re-districting, issues surrounding this long-delayed process should be rectified ahead of the next general elections.
Written on May 10, 2022 | Posted in
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Law,
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Comments Off on The Court’s Decisions Should be Progressive
A new judge for the Court of Appeal has been sworn in. Governor General, Dame Froyla Tzalam today swore in Justice Arif Bulkan during a virtual ceremony. The Governor-General commented at the swearing-in that she is of the view that Justice Bulkan is an asset to Belize’s justice system. The Attorney General, Magali Marin Young noted that […]
Written on May 10, 2022 | Posted in
Law,
People & Places |
Comments Off on New Appeal Judge Sworn In
The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet next Friday. Among the bills that will be introduced for first reading is the Senior Courts Bill which, once passed, will allow for the restructuring of the administration of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Both branches of the judiciary will fall under what will […]
Written on May 6, 2022 | Posted in
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Comments Off on A New Bill will Give Rise to the High Court
