Thirty-nine-year-old Michael Zuniga, a legal assistant at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, was arraigned today on three charges, following a traffic accident in Ladyville on Monday. Police suspect that Zuniga might have been drinking, which is why he didn’t provide a blood or urine sample. Because of this, he was charged with failing to provide a specimen, along with two other offenses. Zuniga pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bail for six hundred dollars. The accident occurred between miles eight and nine on the Philip Goldson Highway. Zuniga, the son of attorney Phillip Zuniga, showed up in court with visible injuries on his face, including his upper and lower lips, and was limping. His parents were there to support him, stating that he was just making sure his son was okay and that they would seek legal advice from another attorney for the next court appearance. In court, Michael Zuniga faced three traffic charges: driving without due care and attention, failing to provide a specimen, and driving without a valid driver’s license. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court date is set for December third.
Category: Trials
23 More Years for Earl Baptist Jr., for Murder
Tonight, Earl Baptist Junior, is serving his second night of his remaining twenty-three-year sentence after he was found guilty of murder in July and handed down a twenty-five-year jail term. Earlier this year, Baptist Junior was found guilty of the murder of thirty-two-year-old Leslie Norman Gillett, a businessman who was tragically killed inside Matilda’s Shop, in Burrell Boom Village back in January 2022. Justice Derick Sylvester presided over the case. The Crown presented video footage of the murder and a police witness who identified Earl Baptist as one of the shooters. At his sentencing on Monday, the judge handed down a twenty-five-year prison term, although the Crown had pushed for thirty-five years for what they called a cold-blooded murder. The judge found no mitigating factors in the case. He was convinced by the Crown that they had proven the five elements of murder beyond a reasonable doubt: Gillett was dead, he died from harm, Baptist caused the harm, he did so with the intent to kill, and there was no lawful justification for the harm. Justice Sylvester also noted that the Crown successfully demonstrated that the electronic evidence was untampered, despite the defense questioning the integrity of the video footage. The footage from the murder scene was admitted as evidence against Baptist.
Melbourne Wade Racking up A Rap Sheet of Thefts
Already facing five counts of vehicle theft, Melbourne Wade found himself back in court today to answer a sixth charge. This time, the accusation involves a businessman’s vehicle, which Wade allegedly rented, stole, and pawned to someone in Cayo. Despite the mounting charges, Wade appeared in court with a sense of optimism, claiming that the vehicle’s owner has recovered his property and is prepared to inform the court that he seeks no further legal action. Melbourne Wade has been remanded to prison until December third. Businessman Floyd Ford reported that Wade rented his white Ford Escape SUV for three days at one hundred and fifty dollars per day. However, instead of returning the vehicle, Wade allegedly pawned it. The thirty-one-year-old, who claims to be a car dealer from Apollo Street in the Belama area, has been on remand at the Belize Central Prison since early September, following a second theft allegation. In court, the police prosecutor objected to granting Wade bail, citing his previous appearances for five other theft allegations. Wade was initially out on bail under the condition that he would not face any new charges. With today’s new charge, his bail was revoked, and he was remanded. On Friday, September twentieth, Floyd Ford informed the police that he had pawned his vehicle to a man in Unitedville, Cayo. In response, the police issued an all-points bulletin for the individual in possession of the vehicle. By Wednesday, September twenty-fifth, they received a tip-off that the man had been detained along with the vehicle. Floyd Ford was then called in to identify the vehicle, confirming it was the same one he had rented to Wade.
Elmer Nah Finally Indicted on 3 Counts of Murder
Today, former police officer, Elmer Nah was indicted on six counts for the December 2022 triple murder of Jon, David, and Vivian Ramnarace in Belmopan, and for the attempted murder of Yemi Alberto. He appeared in court, represented by Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, and was read the first indictment of three counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder. His second indictment included one count of use of deadly means of harm and one count of wounding which will be tried by a jury. Nah pleaded not guilty to all charges. Justice Pilgrim informed Nah that he has the right to a bail application; the right to enter a guilty plea and the right to a deduction of his sentence if he were to plead guilty. Justice Pilgrim then said that if he pleaded not guilty, his case would be heard by a judge alone, however, the second indictment for use of deadly means of harm and wounding would be heard before a jury. Nah was informed of his right to enter into a plea discussion with the crown where he, his attorney, and the prosecution will discuss his case after which, they may offer him the opportunity to plea to a lesser charge or an opportunity for him to plea to another charge.
Bladen 12 Return to Court, Voir Dire Completed
The voir dire for the Bladen twelve defendants has finally been completed, after nine months of proceedings before Senior Magistrate Baja Shoman. The twelve defendants are accused of being involved in the landing of a drug plane near Bladen Village on the Southern Highway with twenty-two bales of cocaine, and a cache of high-powered weapons on the night of November fifth, 2021. Today, defense attorney Leeroy Banner told the media what came out of the last two days of court proceedings.
Leeroy Banner, Defense Attorney
“We finally close the evidence as it relates to the voire dire. The three accused persons gave dock statements and they explained to the court what took place on the day they were detained. And they explained to the magistrate what ordeals they had endured. So now we are finished with the evidence taking aspect of the voire dire. Now we have to do written submissions and the court has given us time to prepare our submissions and then we come back to court on the 17th of December, where the learned trial magistrate will give a ruling as to whether or not she would accept the overall statement and the caution statement that were given by the accused persons.”
Reporter
“And how long have we been in void here?”
Leeroy Banner
“I’ve lost track. It has been months, I would say. We have been here from January this year. So it’s almost eight to nine months we have been in this voire dire. Medical evidence were tendered, medico legal forms were submitted on the Crown’s case, which I believe could assist the court in coming to a conclusion one way or the other.”
Reporter
“So it is your hope that these will not be accepted?”
Leeroy Banner
“No, well, I can’t comment on that, but we have challenged the statements saying that it was not given freely, and that is my instruction that I don’t want to comment on the merits or demerits of that, because that is a life issue before the trial magistrate.”
Austin Underwood Provided Disclosure in Gang Case
Thirty-one-year-old Austin Underwood remains in lockdown at the Belize Central Prison after being charged as a member of a gang several months ago, on June twentieth. The Reggae Street resident appeared unrepresented earlier today before the lower court where he was provided with a sheaf of documents. The hundred and nine pages turned over to Underwood is evidence the prosecution intends to rely on to prove its case that Underwood is in fact a member of the South Side Gang. Underwood, who is the common-law husband of Doris Grant, will return to court on December twelfth, 2024.
Elmer Nah’s Belmopan Triple Murder Arraignment Adjourned
Elmer Nah was set to be arraigned in the High Court today for the December 2022 triple murder of Jon, David and Vivian Ramnarace in Belmopan. But the court could not proceed with the arraignment due to some technicalities that arose. Nah was to be indicted on five counts, three counts of murder, one attempted murder and one use of deadly means of harm. He appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim and was represented by attorney Lynden Jones who appeared in person and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, who appeared virtually. The prosecution was represented by Terrence Williams. In court, Justice Pilgrim brought to the parties’ attention that count five which is the charge for use of deadly means of harm upon Yemi Alberto was not properly before the court. Justice Pilgrim explained that under the Indictable Procedures Act, the charge of use of deadly means of harm is to be heard by a judge and jury. The prosecution then asked for time to rectify the indictment, which was granted for September twenty-sixth. The attempted murder charge also stems from Nah’s alleged attack upon Yemi Alberto. Relatives of the murder victims were present outside of the courtroom.
Was Sentence for Police Officer Charged for Wounding Detainee ‘Excessive’?
Police Inspector Christopher Martinez was recently handed a five-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to wounding detainee Aaron Flowers. The jail time follows a report filed by Flowers alleging that he was beaten over the head with a padlock. Martinez also claims that Flowers injured him, resulting in the officer being charged for common assault. The conflict allegedly stemmed from claims that Flowers had fired shots at Martinez’s home, prompting him to retaliate while Flowers was in police custody. We spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams about instances of police abusing their power over detainees. He told us that while he believes that the sentence is excessive, it sends a message for other officers in the force.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Mister Martinez took full responsibility for what he did. I believe that he came to the realization that he was wrong and he got guilty to the charge. I personally believe that the sentence is excessive in nature. It’s a matter for him to decide if he’s going to appeal the sentence or not. And I hope that police officers are watching. Again, we’re seeing a number of instances where police officers are being accused of committing different types of crimes. And they will see that the court system is not plain when it comes to police. We start with Kareem Martinez where we saw an unusual sentence likewise excessively high and then now we have Martrinez. It’s Something for police to watch out to look at to make sure that they don’t commit themselves.”
Ubaldo Guzman’s Killer Charged for Manslaughter
On Thursday, sixty-one-year-old Ubaldo Guzman died after being viciously chopped with a machete by a drinking companion. The incident occurred in Guzman’s home in Santa Elena Town, while he was drinking with Peter August. Reports are that the two engaged in an altercation during which Guzman allegedly attacked August with a machete. August claims that he only retaliated in self-defense, resulting in Guzman’s death. On September fourteenth, police formally arrested and charged August with manslaughter. On Friday, we spoke with Guzman’s niece, Shamira Badillo, who told us that she never knew her uncle to be aggressive in nature.
Britney Gordon
“Do you know him to be sort of an aggressive person? Or when he drinks, is he known to do anything like this?”
Shamira Badillo, Niece of Deceased
“Well so far we not know him. I know sometimes, yes he used to tek his drinks but in an aggressive way? I never know about that.”
Britney Gordon
“So what are the next steps for the family as you guys grieve together? What are you hoping to come of this situation now?”
Shamira Badillo
“Well not sur. Right now we just waiting because his son just told me this morning that he always used to say the day he die he wants to be buried at San Fransisco Ranch. There my grandmother and grandfather is there too. So he she he will call cuz they are relative to us too. So he will call and ask permission.”
Britney Gordon
“As you guys process this together do you feel that you can depend and lean on each other to get through this difficult time.”
Shamira Badillo
“Yes it’s a united family. So I think all will go okay. He is resting but in a hard way.”
Policeman Charged for Handling 50K Worth of Stolen Jewelry
Earlier this month, Los Angeles firefighter, Gilbert Lightburn Junior, was remanded to prison until October thirtieth after an altercation at Shisha Nightclub resulted in him stabbing three people. Lightburn claimed that he was acting out of self-defense and that he had been robbed that night of his phone and other valuables. Acting upon information received on September ninth, police launched an investigation into forty-three-year-old police officer Hersel Garcia. Hersel was captured on surveillance footage attempting to pawn two fourteen-karat Miami Cuban link chains valued at thirty and twenty thousand dollars, as well as a seven thousand, five-hundred-dollar American Buffalo Indian Head Coin cased in fourteen-karat gold. Garcia was formally charged on September fourteenth with handling stolen goods.