Father Avoids 15-Year Term in Child Cruelty Case  

Child cruelty cases are rare in Belize, but today the court dealt with one that shocked many. A father left his two-year-old home alone to go drinking, a serious crime that could have landed him fifteen years behind bars. Instead, Justice Nigel Pilgrim gave Michael Cowo a second chance: three years’ probation. The judge warned Cowo to stay sober, attend counseling, and follow strict rules, or face prison time. Pilgrim said the decision came after weighing the risks to the child, found crying in the street, against Cowo’s clean record, remorse, and efforts to beat alcohol addiction. So tonight, Cowo walks free, but under watch. One slip, and he’s back in court.