In news just in from Corozal word has been received that Robert Hill has been sentenced to hang. Hill, tried by Supreme Court Justice Troadio Gonzales, was convicted of murdering Becky Gilharry in February of 1999. He was prosecuted by Special Counsel Simeon Sampson and defended by Yakub Gaznabbi.
George “Junie Balls” McKenzie’s appeal in the Supreme Court today was adjourned on the request of his attorney Lutchman Sooknandan, who needed more time to prepare. It will be heard on April 7th. McKenzie and Eugene Neal, who were convicted by Magistrate Herbert Lord and given 4 years in prison each for possession of a […]
He might be on the streets today, but tomorrow George “Junie Balls” McKenzie will be in court yet again. McKenzie and Eugene Neal have appealed Magistrate Herbert Lord’s sentence of four years for possession of a prohibited firearm and six months for unlicensed ammunition. They are currently out on bail. According to the lawyer for […]
An out of court settlement has been reached in a libel suit involving a newspaper editor and this television station. Audrey Matura Tillett, editor of the Guardian, had filed the action last year against Channel Five and it went to trial on Monday in the Supreme Court before Justice Murray Shanks. After calling witnesses Karla […]
A Police Constable who was interdicted from duty because of allegations that he attempted to extort money from a Mennonite family in Spanish Lookout was acquitted this week in the Supreme Court. The attorney for Leonard Williams, Dean Barrow successfully argued that his client had no case to answer for any of the charges, which […]
The announcement in today’s “Amandala” may have been premature. No, George “Junie Balls” McKenzie was not released on ten thousand dollars bail Thursday night, pending appeal of his conviction on prohibited weapon charges. The point is, however, that he could be. With bail set at twenty thousand, comprising half for McKenzie and half to be […]
The libel suit attorney Kirk Anderson thought he had won in November against the former Commissioner of Police Ornel Brooks and Inspector Eli Salazar is anything but over. On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Murray Shanks overturned the previous decision and ordered that the matter go to trial. Both sides are saying “No problem,” and claim […]
The faces may change from year to year with justices retiring or leaving and their replacements arriving from abroad or stepping up from the local ranks. New attorneys come to the Bar every few months, but the ceremony which opens the first session of the Supreme Court every year remains bound by tradition. This year, […]
In case you were still awaiting the final outcome of the August 1998 general election, your wait is now over. Chief Justice Troadio Gonzales this morning turned down the application of defeated Cayo West P.U.P. candidate Amin Hegar to have the results in that constituency overturned. Hegar had alleged that his U.D.P. opponent, Erwin Contreras, […]
The Attorney General Godfrey Smith may be trying a new strategy by using well known defense attorney Simeon Sampson to prosecute a former gang leader but today it was business as usual as the case entered its second day. George “Junie Balls” McKenzie and Eugene Neal, charged with possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition […]
He is no stranger to criminal prosecution nor to the media. Once again former gang leader George “Junie Balls” McKenzie is in court… but the difference is that as part of a so called “experiment” the case against him is being pursued not by a police prosecutor but a private Attorney hired by the government. […]
While another has been arrested for a crime in November, two men accused of shooting Orange Walk businessman Armando “Warren” Gomez in front of his home in April have had their murder charges withdrawn. The Director of Public Prosecutions Adolf Lucas this week indicated to Magistrate Dorothy Flowers that there was insufficient evidence against Alex […]
A Bar Association Committee has presented a report to the Prime Minister calling for changes they say will improve the functioning of the judiciary. The committee, appointed by the Prime Minister Said Musa and the Attorney General Godfrey Smith found that Belize was not competitive with the region in salaries offered to judges. They recommended […]
Fifteen months after British Raleigh volunteer, Anna Lightfoot was murdered in the Stann Creek District the trial for the men accused of killing her ended today in the Dangriga Supreme Court. The twelve-member jury found Alan Cal and Estevan Cho guilty and they were given a death sentence. Attorney Antoinette Moore says the defense is […]
Earlier this year the former Commissioner of Police Ornel Brooks accused attorney Kirk Anderson of trying to hinder their investigation into the murder of Jackie Fern Malic by urging the suspect’s girlfriend to destroy evidence. The attorney responded by filing libel suits against Brooks and Assistant Inspector Eli Salazar who made similar comments to the […]
Wilfred Lauriano, who is on death row for the murder of Diego Tzul at the Queen’s Square Market in 1993 had his appeal dismissed last week by the three judges of the Court of Appeal. His attorney Kirk Anderson had filed the petition after another man, Jason Clarke, reportedly indicated to him that he and […]
Within days of taking office, the Attorney General Godfrey Smith launched his three-year plan for reforming Belize’s judiciary. Today he took the first steps towards bringing the nation’s lawyers, judges and magistrates closer to his vision. At a legal summit entitled, “The Bench and Bar in the New Millennium” members of the legal profession explored […]
Barbadian Elliot Motley was sworn in this morning as Justice of the Court of Appeal for the session that began today. After the ceremony at Belize House in Belmopan, Justice Motley paid a courtesy call on the Acting Solicitor General, Edwin Flowers and spoke with the Attorney General Godfrey Smith. He was accompanied by fellow […]
This morning a number of people came out to the Supreme Court in support of Audrey Matura Tillett, a United Democratic Party Senator and the Editor of the Guardian newspaper who was there to answer charges of contempt of court. Matura Tillett was summoned to court because of an article she had written about the […]
Another major case will not be prosecuted in the courts, but this time, it is not due to lack of evidence but by the victim’s request to stop the proceedings. In February, Andrew “Papa” Brown, Winston “Taga” James, Francis Guy, James Hyde and Lionel Kelly were arrested and charged with kidnapping after Wallingford Requeña reported […]
In March, the mutilated body of ten year old Jackie Fern Malic, was discovered on a feeder road by mile eight on the Western Highway. Following the gruesome discovery, the police arrested thirty-eight year old Michael Williams, a mechanic of Faber’s Road and charged him with the murder of the primary school student. Today on […]
The family of Jackie Malic says they are disturbed by the news that the police’s prime suspect is now a free man. Deonicia Cadle, Malic’s sixty six year old grandmother says she is not happy and wonders if the police really know who killed her granddaughter. Deonicia Cadle, Jackie Malic’s Grandmother “My neighbor called me […]
In more bad luck for police, this afternoon, Melvin Young, Warren Cabral and Philip Meighan, all charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of thirteen year old Samantha Gordon were all released and their charges dropped. According to Lutchman Sooknandan, Attorney for Melvin Young, the police did not have any evidence against his client […]
Late last month when the former S.J.C. teacher Carlos Milan, accused of the attempted rape and indecent assault of his seven year old step-daughter reappeared in Magistrate’s Court, his common-law wife filed an affidavit to drop all charges. As a result, the case could not proceed that day but rather was adjourned until October and […]
In April two men were arrested for bringing hand grenades into Belize. Jose Roberto Chacon has already been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, after pleading guilty to importing explosives and evading customs duties, and today his accomplice was fined almost six thousand dollars for his role. Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord sentenced […]
