Crime - Greater Belize Media

Belize City Man Shot Over $15 Dollars Debt

A Belize City man was shot on Friday night over fifteen dollars that he reportedly owed. Reports are that Eugene Thompson was at his home in Belama Phase Five when a man known to him as Hubert Paqiul arrived at his house and told him that he came to collect the fifteen dollars owed. According to Thompson, he told Paqiul that he will pay him the following day, but Paqiul refused to leave. Thompson told police that he then went back inside to get some money for Paqiul. He alleges that when he returned to give Paqiul the money, twenty-seven-year-old Victor Parham fired one shot at him. According to Thompson, he ran back inside his house and jumped out of his room window to hide in a nearby bushy area until police arrived.

Police later detained Parham and Paqiul. Both of the accused men were arraigned in court today. Parham was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm. Paqiul was charged for the crime of abetment to commit murder. No plea was taken from them. Due to the nature of the offense, they were denied bail and remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until April nineteenth.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday the eighteenth day of February, 2024 around nine fifty p.m. police responded to a shooting at Belama phase 5. Upon arrival they saw Eugene Thompson with gunshot injuries to the body. He was taken to the KHMH where he was listed in a stable condition. Investigation reveals that Eugene Thompson was at his yard at the address when two male people came and fired at him. Two persons have been detained and arrested and charged, namely Victor Parham and Hubert Paqiul. Victor Parham was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and Hubert Paqiul was charged for the crime of abetment to commit murder.”

Man Shot During Altercation with Chinese Business Owner

A Belize City man was shot outside a grocery store on Sunday afternoon in Belama Phase two. According to police, thirty-nine-year-old Reno Castillo was socializing in front of the store when he got into an argument with the proprietor. Police say the nephew of the owner pulled out a licensed firearm and shot Castillo to the leg.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Sunday the eighteenth day of February 2024 at three p.m., police responded to a shooting incident at a store in Belama. Upon arrival they found Reno Castillo with gunshot injury to the foot. Investigation is that Castillo was at the store outside when there was an altercation and at some point a Chinese national that was at the store fired one shot that caught Castillo to the foot. He was taken o the KHMH, treated and released. One person is in police custody pending investigation into this report.”

High Speed Police Chase and Shootout in Hattieville

A high-speed police chase on the Burrell Boom Road led to a shootout between police and a group of men. Police officers had erected a checkpoint on the George Price Highway after receiving information that there were individuals onboard a public bus carrying a firearm. Officers later set chase after a white Geo Prism sought to evade the checkpoint. The vehicle reportedly made an abrupt stop near the Belize Central Prison. One person exited the car and began shooting at the officers. The officers immediately returned fire, says ACP Hilberto Romero.

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Hattieville Police were pursuing a white car on the Boom road. Somewhere along the prison area the car stopped and a male person came out the car firing shots towards the police mobile. There was an exchange of gun fire and thereafter the person got back into the car and they fled from the area. Police continued to chase and lost the vehicle somewhere on the Boom bridge area. The police vehicle received damages to the bonnet and the windshield. The car left the area and we did not locate it.”

Steven Diaz is Charged for OW Baker’s Murder

Twenty-two-year-old Steven Diaz is tonight in police custody after handing in himself in the presence of an attorney. On Tuesday, we reported that the Orange Walk resident was wanted in connection with the murder of nineteen-year-old Joshua Ku which occurred in the predawn hours of February eleventh. Ku, a baker of Orange Walk Town, was at an establishment on Saturday night when he reportedly left in the company of several individuals, including Diaz. It was not until the following night that family and friends grew concerned when Ku did not return home from the nightclub. A search party was immediately dispatched in an attempt to find him alive. It was not until Monday afternoon that Ku’s lifeless body was found near a dirt road in the vicinity of Rhaburn Ridge. He had been fatally stabbed and dumped in a secluded area. Steven Diaz has since been arrested and charged for Ku’s murder.

Cameron Hemsley Murdered in Ladyville

A man was shot dead early this morning in Ladyville. He has been identified as twenty-one-year-old Cameron Hemsley, a known street figure of the same community. Hemsley was released from the Belize Central Prison on February second, for a robbery that is still before the Magistrate’s Court. He was shot in the Kwam Street area and ran into a yard where he collapsed and died. His body was discovered this, morning beside a house, where he apparently ran to escape the gunfire; however, he had already been mortally injured. News Five’s Marion Ali was in Ladyville today and put together the following report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

This is the location behind this residence at the corner of Seagull and Kwam streets in Ladyville, where twenty-one-year-old Cameron Hemsley drew his last breath this morning, before one o’clock. He had apparently sought refuge here when eight gunshots rang out. Hemsley ran into the yard and collapsed. The occupant of the house told News Five that he heard the gunshots, and a few seconds later he heard laboured breathing for a short while outside his house near a window. The man said that he thought that it was an opossum because not long ago, stray dogs had mauled one of these animals and it was breathing heavily before it died.

This morning, after the shots were fired, residents said that dogs were barking incessantly. But no one went to investigate what had really happened and it was not until the occupant of the house opened his window and looked outside that he saw Hemsley’s body beside his house. While no one in the immediate area was willing to talk on record, this incident has left them spooked. Two of Hemsley’s acquaintances did share with us off-camera, different perspectives of the same person. One of his friends, a woman who did not wish to share her name, was shocked by the incident.

Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley

“I surprised when I hear this morning that they kill her, you know, it was very surprising because I never believe they want to kill her, cause he well known a lady villain, everybody hang with her, soh ih very surprising. He did crimes, but not concerning people, nuh like that. He mi cool, da wa cool young man.”

But Hemsley’s other friend who also spoke with us off-camera, said the killing came as no surprise to him.

Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley

“He choose a life deh. That da neva pahn we.”

Marion Ali

”What kind of life yoh di talk bout?”

Voice of: Friend of Cameron Hemsley

“Street, and you know the street is gonna eat you up after a while. There’s a lot of things. A lotta people mi want get the man. One time he was good; we tried to help him, but we can’t help him no more. We told him that when he come from jail last time.”

According to court reports, Cameron Hemsley was in fact, facing a trial for robbery. He was out on bail which he had secured just twelve days ago while awaiting the trial to begin, when he was shot dead. In 2019, he was charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and one count of aggravated assault for pulling a gun on a police officer. Police are investigating the incident. Marion Ali for News Five.

Attempted Murder Charges Withdrawn By Complaint

In 2023, twenty-eight-year-old Howard Reyes was charged for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, aggravated assault with a firearm and wounding, following a shooting incident in Saint Paul’s Bank. Today, the Burrell Boom car dealer is a free man after his last two charges were dropped by the virtual complainant, James Perry, who requested that no further court action be taken against Reyes. According to Reports, Perry had been walking home when a gray Chevrolet Equinox drove up beside him and someone inside the vehicle fired several shots, injuring Perry. Due to the nature of the offenses, Reyes was denied bail at the time and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. However, Reyes was later granted bail in late 2023 by the High Court and now, in light of the complainant’s request, the remaining charges of wounding and deadly means of harm were dropped and Reyes was set free.

Six Days in Belize Ends with Six Months in Prison

After a mere six days in Belize, a Honduran national has been charged with illegal entry and is at risk of serving six months in Prison. Allegations are that thirty-nine-year-old Loren Rosales entered Belize on February eighth, 2024 through the banks of the Mopan River in Benque Viejo Del Carmen and has since being staying in Belize City, where she was later found. Rosales appeared unrepresented before a senior magistrate where she was read a single charge of illegal entry, to which she pleaded guilty. Rosales was given the option of paying a one thousand, five dollar fine or spending six months in prison, after which she will be deported back to Honduras. During mitigation, Rosales pleaded for leniency and asked the court for assistance in obtaining legal documents so that she may be removed from Belize earlier. Rosales was informed that if she wishes to remain in Belize legally, she must return home, obtain a passport and follow the proper protocol for such proceedings. However, she expressed disinterest in remaining in Belize any further. Since Rosales pleaded guilty and has no legal ties in Belize, the court ordered for her expulsion after paying her one thousand five hundred dollar fine or serving six months in prison. Tonight, Rosales is at the Belize Central Prison.

Police Seek Steven Diaz for Murder OW Baker Josh Ku

The lifeless body of nineteen-year-old Joshua Ku was discovered at an isolated location along a dirt road in the Rhaburn Ridge area, near the fringes of Orange Walk District. He had been stabbed to death in the early hours of Sunday morning, before being dumped along a lonely road several miles away from where he lived with his grandfather in Orange Walk Town. Tonight, a wanted poster has been issued for the arrest of twenty-two-year-old Steven Diaz. He is wanted for questioning for his purported involvement in the murder of the young baker. As we reported on Monday, Ku’s family strongly believes that he was killed by his ex-girlfriend’s brother after leaving a nightclub on the morning of February eleventh. Diaz is one of several individuals who may be connected to the weekend murder.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Yes, there are several persons detained for this investigation.

Reporter

“Do police have a motive behind this murder?”

Hilberto Romero

“Not at this time. All we have is that he was with these persons and he got into a car and left with them from the nightclub.”

Reporter

“Are you able to say whether someone they have detained has confessed?”

Hilberto Romero

“I cannot say at this time but the body has been located.”

Nadia Ku, Mother of Deceased

“It hurts me because my son is just nineteen [years old]. Next month he would have been twenty. And Josh wasn’t a troublemaker, everybody that knows Josh knows that Josh is a loving person, keeps to himself. If he needs, he’s going to ask me only, his mom, because it has always only been me and him and my parents, my dad and my mom, and my sister. He has always been, and I try, although he didn’t grow up with his dad, I tried to be the best mom for him. Even people that I know and talk to, I always say, my son, he does use to go to church. He has a good friend and he always comes and find him when he’s here and he’s like, “Josh, let’s go.” “Josh, where are you going?” Mommy, I am going to church.” “Okay, fine. Pray for me. I love you.” It was always like that with Josh. He was loving and caring. He did not deserve to go like this.”

Selgado’s Abetment Trial Concludes in High Court

A decision will be rendered by High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim on March eighth, in a trial against attorney Oscar Selgado that concluded earlier today. Closing arguments were made this morning by attorney Adolph Lucas Senior, who represents Selgado in the criminal matter. Lucas put forward to the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryly-Lynn Vidal compromised a fair trial for Selgado who is accused of abetment to commit murder. Lucas posited that this was done when the DPP attempted to have the Commissioner of Police record a three-way call with her and Giovanni Ramirez who was allegedly hired to kill Marilyn Barnes.

Reporter

“How do you feel about the closing arguments today?”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“I don’t think there any surprises from the other side in terms of what I expected them to come to say.”

Reporter

“He also submitted that Marilyn Barnes had no locus standi to complain before the General Legal Counsel. Does that hold any water for you?”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

“What is stated is not actually the substance of the complaint. She did actually have a complaint before the GLC and she had the right to make the complaint that she did. The actual nature of the complaint is not before the court, that was excluded at the case management conference stage.”

Reporter

“He said that you’ve not explained at all what happened to the DPP’s CDs.”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

“Tat was also dealt with at the case management stage. The copy of the CD also went missing from the Office of the DPP.

Reporter

“An argument was made likewise that there should have been expert opinion to validate the testimony of a police officer having heard a tape and that wasn’t done.”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

“I don’t recall that submission being made.”

Reporter

“Okay, so in terms of the judge accepting the secondary evidence, as well as basing the judgment on hearsay, do you feel that it’s a strong case that the Crown has?”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal

“We wouldn’t have been prosecuting him if we didn’t think that there was a likelihood that he would be convicted.”

High Court to Hand Down Decision in Selgado Matter

In court this morning, Lucas asked the judge to set aside the evidence presented by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and former Inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino. He argued that admitting the secondary evidence would be prejudicial to Selgado and pointed out to the court that their recollection of the audio recording was inconsistent. On the other hand, the DPP asserted that the testimonies provided by the ComPol and the former Inspector are standalone proof of Ramirez’s statement.

Reporter

“What does it mean that he’s also telling the judge and I think the judge also said himself that he must approach Giovanni Ramirez’s statement with a lot of caution? Could that hurt your case?”

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

“Those are the words that need to be used. Those are ordinary words used in directions to judges, to juries when considering evidence. Giovanni Ramirez did not actually come to testify, he did not go into the box and give his testimony and he wasn’t cross-examined. So of course the judge is being asked to rely on a written statement, so the judge has to approach it with caution. That does not mean that he cannot rely on it and in this case, as you have seen, there are so many aspects of that statement that have been independently confirmed. So our argument was that of course, the judge can reach the position that he can safely rely on that statement.”