It’s not the first time and won’t be the last … as two men charged with murder walked down the steps of the Supreme Court free men today after a key witness failed to testify. Crown Counsel Tracey Sosa entered a motion of nolle prosequi at the opening of the trial of Roger Batty Junior […]
In April 2006, Belize City mechanic Mitchum Heredia was gunned down by two armed assailants. Police would later arrest and charge nineteen-year old Emory Felix and twenty-one year old Maurice Felix with the murder. During the four-day trial this week, both men took the stand in their defence to maintain their innocence. But today the […]
Seven months ago, two men were charged with the armed robbery of a Belize City courier. But tonight only one of those defendants is behind bars. In court this afternoon, the case against twenty-one year old Herman Elijio and twenty-five year old Richard Russell concluded before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie. Based on the evidence presented […]
Something approaching stability has settled over the citrus industry following almost a year of upheaval in the governance of the Citrus Growers Association. And while today’s ruling in the Supreme Court is not expected to reopen old wounds, it will change the way business is done in the Stann Creek Valley. The ruling, by Justice […]
The controversy over the twice promised Belize City cruise port continues to wallow in the heavy seas of politics and economics. The latest development is that the temporary injunction granted to developer Luke Espat and his Port Loyola cruise terminal has been extended indefinitely. The ruling by Justice Minnet Hafiz Bertram prohibits Government from issuing […]
Meanwhile, another man accused of murder walked out of court a free man because the prosecution’s star witness changed her mind about testifying. In February 2005, two men: Roger Anthony and Mark Alamilla were arrested and charged in connection with the deadly shooting of Belize City mechanic Lloyd Bodden. But in December 2005, then Director […]
The work of the tribunal chosen to resolve the case of three B.T.L. employees dismissed nine months ago will have to wait a little longer. This afternoon Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh ruled in favour of B.T.L.’s contention that the government displayed bias in its appointments and the Minister of Labour must now select a new […]
It’s been out of the headlines for months but tonight the Commission of Inquiry investigating the affairs of the Development Finance Corporation is back in the news. According to co-chair of the commission, Merlene Bailey Martinez, her final report is “imminent”. Martinez has been forced to file a separate set of findings after the commission’s […]
Almost two years after they were accused of murder, today two Belize City men walked out of court free men. In January 2006, seventeen year old Alfred Tillett and twenty year old Albert Allen were arrested and charged for the killing of twenty five year old Bruce Cocom who was shot in the chest as […]
For two years he was an accused cop killer but today one Belize City resident walked out of court a free man. This afternoon a jury of ten women and two men formally acquitted Gregory Martinez in the killing of Police Corporal Benazico Coy. According to court reports the jurors unanimously cleared Martinez of Murder, […]
Dean Hyde, found guilty of murder earlier this month, has been sentenced to life in prison. Hyde was convicted of the October 2004 killing of sixteen year old Dual Wagner at the Bismark Club in Belize City. Hyde did not make a statement at this morning’s sentencing by Justice Troadio Gonzalez. Prosecutor in the case […]
A U.S. citizen expelled from Belize and turned over to the F.B.I. in December of last year has pleaded guilty to terrorism related charges. James Ujaama, who had already served a two year prison sentence in the States for setting up a terror training camp, had entered into a plea bargain agreement with U.S. authorities […]
The corporal punishment of children is always a controversial issue with traditional disciplinarians lined up against a supposedly more enlightened generation of parents. This week the debate has moved from the theoretical to the practical as the case of Clifford White, principal and schoolteacher at Belize Christian Efforts Foster Home, is being heard in Magistrates’ […]
Two years after a fatal shooting at a popular nightclub, the man accused of the crime has been convicted of murder. According to court reports, this afternoon twenty-nine year old Dean Hyde was found guilty in connection with the death of sixteen year old Dual Wagner Jr. On October ninth, 2004, Wagner was at the […]
Today in the Supreme Court, twenty year old Abdiel Sandoval was sentenced to fifteen years behind bars after he was found guilty of the attempted murder of his girlfriend, Tracy Donis, who was only sixteen years old at the time. The crime occurred in San Ignacio on September third, 2005. Sandoval reportedly slashed the young […]
Two years after thirty-seven year old Sergeant Leslie Wade was accused of raping a thirty year old woman police constable, today Wade walked out of the Supreme Court a free man. According to the woman, the rape occurred in the early morning of September twentieth, 2005, in the barracks of the Police Training School in […]
Opponents to the construction of a marina and office complex in Caribbean Shores continue their legal battle to derail the project. Following an in-chamber session before Justice John Muria this morning, counsel for the West Landivar Citizens Action Committee Tania Moody, filled us in on the latest developments. Tania Moody, Attorney, West Landivar Citizens Action […]
Meanwhile back at home, the A.C.B.’s case against the Government of Belize regarding the legality of the loans and guarantees to Universal Health Services took a turn today that will keep the matter in limbo for months. In May, we reported that the claimants: the Association of Concerned Belizeans, the National Trade Union Congress, the […]
And rounding out our Supreme Court coverage, this morning Justice John Muria heard submissions from attorneys arguing for and against a tourism project in West Landivar by Belize City businessman David Gegg. Attorney Tania Moody represented the interests of Cecil Arnold and others opposed to the development, while Nicola Cho responded for the Government. Moody […]
Tonight the family of a teenager left paralyzed by a violent boyfriend is breathing a little easier following the conviction of the man accused of the crime. On Thursday, a jury unanimously found twenty year old Abdiel Sandoval guilty of attempted murder. On September third 2005, the Cayo resident, then only eighteen years old, was […]
Today three men accused of murder in two separate high profile cases walked out of court free men after the prosecution withdrew the charges against them. According to court reports, this morning prosecutor Cheryl Lynn Branker-Tait presented Justice Troadio Gonzalez with two nolle prosequi motions. The first involved James “BJ” Swan Jr., who had been […]
A citizens group in the West Landivar neighbourhood of Belize City won a victory this morning when the Supreme Court agreed to extend an injunction against further development on a parcel of seafront land. The extension, granted by Justice Sir John Muria, will last until the civil action by resident Cecil Arnold against the development […]
Not exactly a role model for the administration of Belizean justice, the criminal prosecution of Ben Bou-Nahra has had more twists and turns than the Hummingbird Highway. Initiated almost two years ago with a hail of bullets, the process ostensibly ended today with what his lawyers called yet another bang. But as News Five’s Janelle […]
Earlier this month, the members of the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative made headlines when they launched a public campaign against the takeover of their routes by the Novelo family’s National Transport Limited. The B.B.O.C. eventually took their case to the Supreme Court and a ruling this week has bolstered the cooperative’s confidence. Through their attorney […]
They were found guilty of robbery and rape and today Derrick Sampson and Michael Trapp learned that they will spend the next ten years behind bars. The sentences were handed down by Justice Troadio Gonzalez after hearing mitigation pleas. On July nineteenth Sampson was convicted on two counts of robbery and one count of rape, […]
