Trials - Greater Belize Media

Triple Murder Convict Gets Three Life Sentences on Eve of Birthday

Earlier today, a convicted killer learned his fate, just one day before his 31st birthday. Kyle Aswan Zetina has been sentenced to three life terms for a brutal triple murder that shocked the nation back in 2019. Among the victims: Excelsior High School’s beloved Vice Principal, Alarice Andrewin, along with her two friends, Vidal Yuman and nineteen-year-old Maria Lucas, a Guatemalan national. The crime took place inside Andrewin’s home at mile ten and a half on the George Price Highway. Despite being found guilty, Zetina maintained his innocence during sentencing, telling the court, ‘I’m sorry for the deaths, but I didn’t do it.’ Still, the judge handed down three life sentences, with no chance of parole for at least thirty-seven years.

Man Pleads Guilty to Blackmailing Family with Death Threats

Tonight, a chilling case of blackmail takes center stage in the High Court. Elijah Buller, the man accused of threatening to kill his own uncle and family unless he was paid two thousand dollars, has officially pleaded guilty. The incident, which dates back to July 2023, shook a quiet neighborhood in Belize City, and now, nearly two years later, Buller is facing the consequences. This morning, before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, Buller was reindicted and once again heard the charge of blackmail read aloud. He accepted the agreed facts of the case and entered a guilty plea as part of a plea bargain with the Crown. The court confirmed that Buller’s plea was made voluntarily, without pressure or promises. The details are disturbing: a loud knock at the door, a firearm raised, and a terrifying threat: ‘You, your wife, and daughter will die if you don’t give me two thousand dollars by Sunday.’ That’s what Jason Reneau and his wife Sheila say they endured at the hands of a man they once called family. Now out on bail, Buller is set to be sentenced this Friday, July fourth, at nine a.m. He’s expected to receive a non-custodial sentence and will be ordered to pay compensation to his victims. We’ll be following this story closely and will bring you updates as they unfold.

Middleton Sentenced for Rape of Minor: 17 Years Behind Bars

Forty-nine-year-old Ervin Middleton has learned his fate after being convicted earlier this year for the rape of a thirteen-year-old girl. His sentence? Seventeen years, ten months, and twenty-seven days behind bars. Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down the sentence today, calling Middleton a predator who abused trust and inflicted deep psychological harm on his young victim. The court heard that Middleton, more than thirty years older than the child, waited until she was alone before attacking her, an act the judge described as premeditated and deeply disturbing. The victim, now eighteen, bravely testified in court, recounting how her life was upended, not just by the assault, but by the emotional fallout, including being separated from her siblings and struggling academically. Her words painted a heartbreaking picture of trauma and isolation. Justice Pilgrim made it clear: the court has a duty to protect children and send a strong message, those who exploit positions of trust to harm minors will face serious consequences. Middleton’s sentence was increased due to aggravating factors, including his prior convictions and lack of remorse. He will also undergo mandatory counseling and psychiatric treatment while incarcerated. This case, dating back to 2020, has now reached its legal conclusion, but the impact on the victim, and the message to society will resonate far beyond the courtroom.

Defense Challenges Key Testimony in Nah Case

The courtroom drama continues in the high-profile case involving Elmer Nah, now in its second week of voir dire hearings. This morning, the spotlight was back on a key witness, a Justice of the Peace, whose testimony could determine whether a crucial statement makes it into evidence. She claims she witnessed the statement being taken from shooting victim Vivian Belisle Ramnarace. But under intense cross-examination, she admitted something surprising: she didn’t write her own statement—the investigating officer, PC Jose Carillo, took down the report. That revelation has defense attorney Doctor Lynden Jones digging deeper, questioning the credibility and process behind the evidence. With one more police witness expected to take the stand, all eyes remain on Justice Nigel Pilgrim, who will soon decide whether this statement will be allowed in the trial.

Survivor Recounts Night of Terror in Triple Murder Trial

In a gripping courtroom moment, Yenie Alberto, the sole surviving witness in the Ramnarace family triple murder, took the stand to describe the terrifying events of New Year’s Eve 2022. Alberto, the common-law partner of victim David Ramnarace, recalled a peaceful evening spent with David, his brother Jon, Jon’s wife Vivian, and their baby at the couple’s home in Maya Mopan. They were cooking, chatting, and playing games—just enjoying the holiday. But everything changed when the dogs started barking. Jon and David stepped outside to check, and Alberto followed. She noticed someone walking toward them but didn’t get a good look. Moments later, Vivian joined them at the door. As Alberto turned to speak with her, gunshots rang out. Alberto said she instinctively pushed Vivian inside and tried to shut the door. She was shot in the stomach and collapsed in the living room. Despite her injury, she managed to escape through the back door and hide. She later ran to a neighbor for help and was rushed to the hospital. Under cross-examination, Alberto admitted she couldn’t identify the shooter, only describing the person as dressed in black. Defense attorney Doctor Lynden Jones questioned whether the group initially mistook the gunfire for New Year’s fireworks. Earlier in the day, three medical professionals testified. Two doctors confirmed that Vivian was alert and coherent in the days following the shooting. A mental health expert also spoke about helping Vivian prepare to tell her daughter about her father’s death. The final witness was Justice of the Peace Catherine McKenzie, who supervised Vivian’s police statement before her death. That statement, which reportedly names the shooter, will be examined in court tomorrow. The trial continues before Justice Nigel Pilgrim.

Opposition Senator Faber in Hot Seat Over Police Confrontation

Former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber is headed to trial. He’s facing charges of obstruction and aggravated assault against a police officer, charges that stem from an early morning traffic stop back in April. Faber appeared in court today with attorney OJ Elrington, where he received full disclosure in the case, including twenty-three pages and a CD of evidence. The trial is set for September sixteenth. But what exactly happened that night? According to police, it started with a routine checkpoint and ended with a confrontation that’s now landed a former government minister in legal hot water.

Danny Mason Back in Court—And Speaking Out

Tonight, William “Danny” Mason is once again behind bars after appearing before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at the High Court. He was expected to make a plea for mitigation, but that didn’t happen—key documents, including his Social Inquiry Report, are still missing. But the courtroom wasn’t quiet. Mason used the moment to speak out about what he claims are serious issues inside the prison, from being kept in isolation to being denied access to his attorney. He says, “It’s been nine years, and I’m tired of the delay.” Justice Pilgrim has now pushed the case to June thirtieth and says he’ll be writing to the Kolbe Foundation to ensure Mason gets the legal access he’s entitled to.

Micah Baltazar’s Killer Convicted of Murder

A rare murder conviction has just been handed down in Belize, and it’s making headlines. Today, twenty-two-year-old Cassian Steve Billary was found guilty of the 2020 murder of nineteen-year-old Micah Baltazar, a case that shocked the nation with its cold and calculated nature. Baltazar was lured to his death under the pretense of meeting a girl, only to be gunned down with seventeen bullets. Billary, who was just eighteen at the time, claimed he acted under duress, saying he was threatened with death if he didn’t pull the trigger. But Justice Candace Nanton wasn’t convinced. She ruled that the evidence, including a detailed police interview, proved intent, and that duress is not a legal defense for murder in Belize. Billary’s mother was visibly shaken outside the courtroom as the guilty verdict was delivered just before noon. He’s now awaiting sentencing, scheduled for July eleventh.

Belize City Man to Stand Trial for Attempted Murder

A Belize City man is headed to the Supreme Court after being committed to stand trial for attempted murder. Thirty-seven-year-old Mark Stevens appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court today, where his preliminary inquiry wrapped up just before noon. Stevens is accused of stabbing thirty-one-year-old Juan Carlos Rios Pineda on June eighth, 2024, while Pineda was walking his dog near Lord Ridge Cemetery. According to police, Pineda identified Stevens as his attacker, saying he was chased and stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. A witness, Pineda’s landlord, reportedly tried to intervene but was unsuccessful. Police later recovered a long-sleeve shirt and the suspected weapon, a wooden-handled kitchen knife, at the cemetery. The prosecution has submitted over fifteen witness statements and ten pieces of evidence. Stevens, who has been behind bars since his arraignment last June, was offered bail again but remains in custody. His trial is set for the October 2025 session of the Supreme Court.

Appeal Court Overturns Murder Convictions Over Coerced Confessions

In a major ruling from the Court of Appeal, two men convicted of murder in 2018 have had their convictions overturned. Marvin Neal and Jaroud Lamb were serving life sentences for the 2013 murder of Steven Valencia in Santa Elena Town. But today, the Court of Appeal ruled that the only evidence used to convict them, caution statements given to police, should never have been admitted in court. The judgment highlights serious concerns about how those statements were obtained. Both men claimed they were threatened, beaten, and pressured into confessing. The court found that the trial judge failed to properly assess these claims and that the prosecution did not prove the statements were given freely and voluntarily. In Neal’s case, the court noted troubling inconsistencies in police testimony and a lack of explanation for why he would confess when no other evidence linked him to the crime. In Lamb’s case, the court criticized the use of a Justice of the Peace who couldn’t recall the event and raised concerns about the conditions of his detention. With no other evidence tying the men to the murder, the court quashed their convictions and sentences, bringing an end to a legal battle that has lasted over a decade.