In the Supreme Court, twenty-nine year old George Mathews Junior, also known as ‘Pete’, charged with the Attempted Murder of twenty seven-year old Derrick Munnings, was freed today of the charge by Justice Herbert Lord when Crown Counsel Frances Turner entered a nolle prosequi indicating that the prosecution cannot proceed. The trial had already started […]
And in news from the Supreme Court, twenty-seven year old Calbert Budd Jr. became the fourth person in two weeks to beat the murder rap following on the heels of Tyronne Tillett and the Villanueva brothers, Jermaine and Jaime. Budd, who was charged with the murder of Jason Avila, was freed of the charge when […]
Two brothers are free tonight of attempted murder charges. Nineteen year old Anibal Lemus and twenty year old Mauricio Lemus were both charged with the attempted murder of Wayne Joseph and were freed today in the court of Justice Herbert Lord. Crown Counsel Francis Turner entered a nolle prosequi, indicating that the prosecution could no […]
Also in the Supreme Court, a potential juror was struck off trial duties when it was discovered that he had previous convictions and a pending charge before the court. Twenty-seven year old Michael Herrera, who was selected last Friday as a juror in the case of George Matthews, charged with Attempted Murder, was removed from […]
In legal news, Attorney General Wilfred Elrington on Wednesday confirmed to News Five that he has received a resolution approved by the Bar Association in a special session. Elrington says he will think about the document very carefully and will seek legal advice before responding to the Association as he is not certain to what […]
And in the Supreme Court today, the case of Barry Bowen and the Landowners Association versus the Government of Belize wrapped up just before noon. The Chief Justice has reserved judgment on the matter, saying (quote) “there is no question that it is an important case which raises fundamental issues that need to be addressed.” […]
Also in Magistrates’ Court today, twenty-eight year old taxi driver Max Tillett walked free when the virtual complainant in a case of carnal knowledge against him, could not be located. Tillett, married and the father of three children, faced the charge in respect of a complaint by a minor thirteen years old. A nolle prosequi […]
In Court today, an examination of means was held on the Novelo Brothers: David, Antonio, and Hipolito. Remember them? They are the trio behind National Transport Services, who previously owned Novelo’s Bus Line. That bus company ran into trouble over a multi-million dollar loan with the D.F.C. And now an examination of means is being […]
In the Supreme Court today, twenty-one year old, Telswin Lara was freed of murder charges for the fatal stabbing of Bakary Logan. A nolle prosequi was entered when the only eyewitness to the crime was unavailable to testify, giving Lara a free ticket out of jail. The murder occurred on December twenty-ninth, 2006, on Antelope […]
The case of businessman Barry Bowen and the Landowners Association Limited against the Government of Belize continued in its third day in court. Bowen and the Landowners Association are challenging government’s proposal to amend the Belize constitution which, if passed, would deny protection from deprivation of property or acquisition rights and the right to access […]
And in the Supreme Court, the key witness in a murder trial today developed a case of amnesia and suddenly forgot details in the stabbing death of twenty-five year old Mark Flowers that occurred on August twenty-fourth, 2007. When Errol Gentle took the witness stand in the Court of Justice Adolph Lucas, he could not […]
And in another case in the Supreme Court, this afternoon a jury found Englebert Reynolds not guilty of Attempted Murder. Reynolds was on trial for the June 2007 shooting of Ernest Sacasa. The victim testified that he was at Q Club on Queen Charlotte Street in Belize City when he accidentally collided into another man. […]
We turn now to the Supreme Court where the case of Barry Bowen versus the Attorney General got underway this morning. Bowen is challenging section seventeen of the constitutional amendment put forward earlier this year by the government and passed in the House in August. In its original form, it provides protection from deprivation of […]
Joining Bowen’s protest of the amendment are the two hundred and forty members of the Landowners Association Limited, which also filed a claim against government. When Courtenay wraps up his submissions today or tomorrow, attorney for the association, Dickie Bradley, will start his. This morning when we spoke to Bradley, he seconded Courtenay’s arguments, calling […]
Before the arguments on the constitutional case began, Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh this morning denied a declaration to pronounce actions by Revenue Magistrate Ed Usher as unlawful in a case brought by Telemedia and its subsidiaries Digicell and B.E.S.L. In handing down his judgment, the C.J. said that the companies did not engage in the […]
He has been in police custody since Friday and today Darren Banks was officially arraigned for two counts of Attempted Murder in Belize City. The thirty year old appeared in Magistrates’ Court along with thirty-three year old Steven Zelaya with whom he is jointly charged. Both men were remanded into custody until November twenty-seventh. Banks […]
Police have made an arrest in the seven month old shooting of Delroy Matura. Nineteen year old Randolph Samuels a.k.a. Delon Sheran is alleged to be one of two men involved in the March nineteenth incident. He appeared in court this morning in the Magistrates’ Court to answer to charges of Attempted Murder, Dangerous Harm, […]
They were caught with ten cases of contraband liquor and for that they could end up paying close to thirty thousand dollars in fines. The two men, twenty-two year old Wilbert Olivarez and twenty-one year old Alpheus Henry Jr. were charged today with the crime of having uncustomed goods. The men were busted with the […]
And in the Supreme Court, a man who was last Friday found guilty of the lesser charge of Manslaughter, beating the charge of murder, heard his sentence today in the Court of Justice Adolph Lucas. Thirty-two year old John Williams received a sentence of fifteen years behind bars. Williams was convicted for the killing of […]
Meanwhile, in the Belmopan Supreme Court, the murder trial of Joseph Kee and Taedron Bennett was adjourned for October twenty-eighth, shortly after it got underway this morning. The two are facing charges for the murder of Kevin and Phillip Brannon. A jury of six women and six men was already empanelled when Justice Troadio Gonzalez […]
A nolle prosequi motion has freed a man of rape charges. When twenty-three year old Dion Neal appeared in court this morning, Crown Counsel Trenia Young entered the motion because the prosecution could not locate a key witness. As a result, Neal was free to walk out of court. Neal was accused of raping a […]
If you thought that the legal tangles between the Government and Telemedia were on hold, well think again, because early this morning before the Magistrates’ Court had ordered Telemedia to pay up four million dollars in taxes for June and July, Telemedia and its Executive Committee Chairman, Dean Boyce, filed a claim against Magistrate Ed […]
Lester Young, one of two men changed with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the fatal shooting of twenty-two year old Alpheus Smith junior, was freed of the charges today by Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie. At the preliminary investigation to determine if there was prima facie case to send it up to the Supreme […]
Police have charged one of their own, an ex-employee, with false accounting. The former firearms clerk, thirty-nine year old, Michaelee Flowers of Maxboro, was charged with three counts of False Accounting and one count of Theft when she appeared before Chief Magistrate, Margaret Gabb. No pleas were taken from Flowers and she met bail of […]
Today a jury found John Williams not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Canuto Velasquez. The nine women and three men deliberated for four hours before coming to their verdict. On April fifth, 2007, the two men were drinking when Velasquez allegedly threatened Williams and Williams delivered a fatal blow […]
