The trial of Hadrian and Robert Hertular resumed this morning with new defence attorney Dean Barrow making an application to stay the trial. Barrow says for Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord to continue with the proceedings would be a breach of the defendants’ constitutional rights. Dean Barrow, Hertular Attorney “In the written ruling that Mr. Lord […]
Another aspect of the criminal justice system is the right of every defendant to a lawyer. In this case lawyer Barrow has taken up the cause of high profile drug suspects Robert and Hadrian Hertular. And today he succeeded in springing them from Hattieville. Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition “I applied for bail yesterday […]
Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord today concluded the trial within a trial in the drug case of the Hertular brothers. After reading testimony given by Dragon Unit officers who conducted the May ninth search on Hadrian Hertular’s premises in Ladyville, Lord decided that Hadrian’s words on that night will be admitted as evidence. It is alleged […]
The trial of Hadrian and Robert Hertular continued today in Magistrate’s Court number one. Cross examinations of yesterday’s witnesses were conducted by defence attorney Simeon Sampson. Sampson challenged P.C. Sosa’s account of what transpired at the scene of the drug discovery at the Hertular home in Ladyville on May ninth. Sosa, of the Dragon Unit, […]
The trial of brothers Adrian and Robert Hertular now underway in Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord’s court, took a turn this morning, when defence attorney Simeon Sampson made a submission that Lord should remove himself from the case. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams, who has been following the proceedings, spoke to special prosecutor Fred Lumor and attorney […]
The Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the transfer of HIV blood to three patients at the K.H.M.H. between March twenty-eighth and April first has concluded its public hearings. Between the period June fourth to eleventh the three-man commission has heard testimony from nine witnesses, two of whom had to be recalled to offer additional […]
As the Commission of Inquiry, charged with the responsibility to investigate the transfer of HIV blood to three patients at K.H.M.H., closes out its first week, eight people have testified. Ann-Marie has been following the proceedings all week. Ann-Marie Williams “The last witness to testify this afternoon before the Commission of Inquiry was Amalia Gonzalez. […]
Brothers Robert and Adrian Hertular were hoping that they would walk out of the courtroom on bail this morning when they appeared for a preliminary inquiry before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord. Much to their displeasure…it didn’t happen. Lord told the Hertulars, in the presence of their attorney Simeon Sampson, that an earlier decision by the […]
The Commission of Inquiry investigating the transfusion of HIV tainted blood to three patients at the K.H.M.H. has entered its second day…and the time has come to name names and point fingers. In her testimony today Joy Charlie, head of the Blood Donor Service, recounted an April fifth meeting called to discuss how the infected […]
Belizean businessman and owner of the Coral Grove Lounge, Kevin Morris, had his extradition hearing in the Magistrate’s Court adjourned for the fourth time this morning, this time until May eleventh. Reports are that Belize police picked up Morris on February first at the request of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. He is allegedly wanted […]
It took a long time and a lot of legal wrangling but today the first step was taken toward the possible removal of Supreme Court Justice George Meerabux. Attorney General Godfrey Smith, campaigning in the Pickstock Division, confirmed to News Five that this morning Meerabux received a letter from Governor General Sir Colville Young, informing […]
The big crime news over the weekend in the States was the acquittal of Sean “Puffy” Combs on weapons and bribery charges arising from a ruction last year at a Manhattan night club. Further down in some of the stories they may or may not have mentioned that Puff Daddy’s companion that night, Belizean Rapper […]
The verdict is in on the Meerabux case and the Governor General has been given the green light to carry out his responsibilities under the constitution. Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh rejected the arguments of lawyers for Judge George Meerabux, who claimed that the actions of the Governor General in considering complaints of misbehaviour against Meerabux, […]
The injunction preventing BTL from blocking the use of money saving Internet telephone devices has been overturned by the Belize Court of Appeal. The order nullifies last year’s Supreme Court decision by Justice George Meerabux that prevented the phone company from barring the use of the I.P. Star machine and similar services under its exclusive […]
The constitutional motion brought on behalf of Justice George Meerabux entered its third day of hearings in the courtroom of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh. Lawyers for Meerabux continued their arguments that the actions by the Governor General to have him removed from the bench constituted a violation of his rights, while the Attorney General maintains […]
Opening arguments began today in the Supreme Court where embattled Justice George Meerabux is seeking to stop the Governor General from taking steps to remove him from the bench. Meerabux’s attorney, Kirk Anderson, argued before Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh that he should recuse himself from the case because of his alleged personal involvement in discussing […]
The first round in the legal battle to oust Justice George Meerabux from his seat on Belize’s Supreme Court will open on Tuesday. The venue is the courtroom of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh, where lawyers for Meerabux have filed a constitutional motion to halt all proceedings to remove their client. Attorneys Kirk Anderson and Oscar […]
Police were not the only law enforcement officials who were frustrated last week. Prosecutors were red faced as defendants in two high profile murder cases were freed for lack of evidence. On Friday Eric Savery and Gregory Goff were released after twelve months on remand. They had been arrested for the killing of moneylender Winston […]
Several weeks ago we reported on renovations being made to the Supreme Court building in Belize City. Today we discover that perhaps even more important upgrades are being made inside the walls of the Bar Association. The first issue of Belize Law Review was circulated by fax today and for laymen as well as lawyers […]
This morning, Chief Justice Abdullah Conteh handed down his reasons for granting Rhett Fuller bail on June 16th. Besides Fuller’s apparent entanglement in the legal system resulting in over a year and a half of imprisonment, Conteh emphasized that the decision was within the court’s discretion. Attorney for the defendant, Kirk Anderson, is now preparing […]
On Monday we reported that the Chief Justice Abdullah Conteh ordered that Rhett Fuller be granted bail. Today News Five learnt that on the same day we reported the story, Fuller was released around 10:00 in the morning from the Youth Enhancement Academy. Fuller has been imprisoned since October 1998 awaiting an extradition hearing. Viewers […]
He has been incarcerated since October of 1998, following an extradition request from the United States government for a Florida murder he claim he didn’t commit. But a decision on Friday by the Supreme Court should soon have Rhett Fuller out on bail. Chief Justice Abdullah Conteh approved the application for bail, which was set […]
It’s a case where for once, the sentence stuck. George “Junie Balls” McKenzie and Eugene Neal are enjoying the accommodations at the Hattieville Correctional Facility tonight after their appeal was dismissed in the Supreme Court. Puisne Judge George Meerabux ruled that the sentence of 4 years for possession of a prohibited firearm and 6 months […]
He had 5 pounds and he got 8 years. Phillip Menzies, an American arrested in February for trafficking cocaine, pleaded guilty in Corozal’s Magistrate Court yesterday and was sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined $25,000. Menzies was unable to pay the fine and had an extra 4 years added to his stay at […]
With more people traveling through the International Airport it means that the Belize Airports Authority will be reaping a bonanza in departure taxes. And it looks like they’re going to need every penny. In a decision handed down on Friday the BAA has been ordered to pay almost a million dollars to the operators of […]
