Attorney Appeals 10-Year Sentence for Abetment to Murder

The appeal hearing for 56-year-old attorney Oscar Selgado, convicted of abetment to murder in the case of Marilyn Barnes, got underway this morning at the Court of Appeal.

Selgado, who was sentenced to 10 years by Justice Nigel Pilgrim in June 2024, challenges both his conviction and sentence.

Selgado’s attorneys, Arthur Saldivar and Darrell Bradley, argued that the trial was flawed, citing an allegedly incomplete transcript and disputing the admissibility of a key witness’s statement. Giovanni Ramirez, the crown’s main witness, had claimed fear for his life and did not testify at the original trial. The crown successfully admitted his statement under a voidaire, a legal procedure to determine a fearful witness’s testimony.

Saldivar also argued that the 10-year sentence was excessive, noting that a similar case involving Johan Abadi resulted in a six-year term, despite Selgado having no prior convictions. He further claimed the crown failed to provide protection for Ramirez and did not explore virtual testimony, which could have allowed him to testify safely.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn-Vidal, countered that Ramirez’s fear was genuine and corroborated by witnesses. She maintained that without Ramirez’s statement, the crown would not have had a case against Selgado. She also refuted claims that Ramirez could have testified virtually, saying the witness consistently refused to participate due to credible threats from Selgado.

Full story on News 5 Live at 6 p.m.