Trials - Greater Belize Media

Five Persons Charged for Mas Camp Beatdown

Five persons, including three women and two men, have been arrested and charged for their roles in the savage beatdown of a fifteen-year-old girl last week, following a mas camp here in Belize City. A video clip of the teenager, identified as Carly Smith, shows several women embroiled in a fight that ends with Smith being viciously and repeatedly kicked in the head. According to ACP Romero, the persons charged in connection with the incident were arraigned earlier today.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Reference a video that surfaced on social media regarding a fight that happened on the fifth of September, 2024, an investigation was carried out and we have since arrested and charged five persons. They are Kimara Castillo, Kaylen Guerro, Christina Thurton who are charged for grievous harm and Felix Shepherd and Anigi Conorquie who were charged for abetment to commit grievous harm. They were to appear in court this morning.”

Reporter

“What caused the fight?”

Hilberto Romero

“Some provocation of a female. They made a report and so these persons were charged.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you establish who were charged physically assaulting the minor and who were charged for recording the incident?”

Hilberto Romero

“The first three were mentioned, those were the ones that physically assaulted her. Those were charged for grievous harm, and the other two males for abetment to commit grievous harm.”

Reporter

“That was due to them recording?

Hilberto Romero

“That is correct.”

Armin Bouchub is Charged for Cotton Tree Murder

The Belize Police Department has made an arrest in the Sunday morning murder of Otoniel Mateo in Cotton Tree Village. Earlier today, twenty-six-year-old Armin Amado Bouchub, a stevedore of Cayo District, was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of Mateo. As we reported, Mateo was inside his apartment in the early hours of Sunday morning when a pair of men came knocking at his door. When Mateo opened the door, the men got into a physical altercation during which he was fatally shot. His attackers then fled the scene of the deadly shooting. On Monday, police began circulating a wanted poster of Bouchub, but did not specify the reason he was being sought. During an interview on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero told reporters that the motive for the murder was an argument over a woman.

Call Center Agent Charged for Abetment to Murder

Twenty-nine-year-old Keinen Bermudez, a call center agent, is on remand after being arraigned for abetment to murder. This is in connection to the shooting death of Dimitrie Usher that took place here in Belize City on August twenty-fifth. While there has been no arrest for Usher’s murder, Bermudez is accused of aiding another individual in the execution-style murder last Sunday on Wood Street. Earlier today, Bermudez appeared unrepresented in the lower court where he was arraigned before a senior magistrate. It was explained to him that due to the nature of the offense, no bail can be offered to him. With that, he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until November twenty-seventh.

Policeman Charged with Four Counts of Rape of a Child

A policeman has been charged with four counts of rape of a child. The charges against thirty-four-year-old Anival Carillo were filed after the child, a fourteen-year-old girl from Corozal, accompanied by her mother, made a police report in August. The girl alleges that between 2022 and 2023, a police officer had sexual relations with her several times. Carrillo was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court. No plea was taken because of the severity of the offenses and Carrillo was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. His case will be called again on November twenty-sixth.

Stepfather Sentenced to 15 Years for Killing 3-Year-Old Stepson

Kenrick Longsworth, the Belize City resident convicted of the death of his three-year-old stepson, has been sentenced to fifteen years behind bars for manslaughter. He was also given an additional three years for wounding. As we have reported, on January tenth, 2020, Mark Teul’s mother found him dead inside their Lovely Lane home. He was beaten to death and sexually assaulted by Longsworth. Mark’s two siblings were also found badly beaten, but still alive inside the house. Today, he appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester for sentencing. Justice Sylvester ordered that the sentences run concurrently with each other and his four years on remand deducted by the court. The children’s mother was seen crying inside the courtroom. She left immediately after hearing the sentence handed down for the killing of her three-year-old son. Longsworth was initially tried for murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was later found guilty of manslaughter and guilty of wounding. Justice Sylvester starting point was twenty-four years in prison. He then deducted five years for the mitigating and aggravating factors leaving him with nineteen years. After his remand period was deducted, Longsworth was left with a fifteen-year sentence. Those mitigating factors are that he showed remorse and was sorry for what he did. The aggravating factor Justice Sylvester listed was that Longsworth is not a threat to society. As a result, his sentences are to run concurrently.

Thirty Years in Prison for Murder of Owen Tucker

Earlier today, a man was sentenced to thirty years in prison for the 2022 execution of Owen Tucker. He is forty-year-old Jerome Crawford who was charged for shooting his employer, on November twenty-second, 2022, in front of his coworkers. Owen Tucker was a Belizean American national and the owner of Croc Land eco-park. Initially, Crawford was handed a twenty-five-year sentence, an additional five years were added due to several aggravating factors. Having served two years, Crawford will spend twenty-eight years behind bars. Justice Derick Sylvester noted that Crawford was of mature age at the time of the crime, showed no sign of psychological issues and displays no signs of remorse. Tucker’s, sister-in-law Marina Tucker, says that now that justice has been served, the family can finally seek closure.

Marina Tucker, Sister-in-law of Deceased

“Today’s sentencing is a step toward justice for my brother in law and the family. When those sentencing can bring back Owen, the family is relieved that the court has acknowledged the significance, the impact of this crime. I can say. Yes, thirty years. Although a little bit more would have been a little bit pleasing for the family. During the loss that we are suffering. But at the same time, the family would like to express its gratitude to those who have walked this painful journey with us. Thanks to the law enforcement officer, the legal team and the community. I believe after today’s sentence, the For me, no longer have this hanging over our head, and we can now go on with our lives.”

Police Pleads Guilty to Hitting Man in Head with Padlock

A police officer has plead guilty to hitting a detainee in the head with a padlock back in 2023. He is Inspector Christopher Martinez, who is accused of removing the padlock from a jail cell and striking businessman Aaron Flowers in the head with it. Flowers alleges that he was beaten by Martinez while detained in a holding cell after he discovered that Flowers was the person who allegedly opened fire at his residence with a firearm. Martinez appeared before the court today represented by senior council Simeon Sampson, where he pleaded guilty and apologized to the court for wasting their time. Earlier this year, Martinez, who was then represented by attorney Andrew Bennett, requested a sentencing indication as he was considering pleading guilty. However, when he was told he would be given a custodial sentence he chose to push the matter further before the court. Bennett would later recuse himself from the case after allegations arose of Martinez attempting to bribe and intimidate Flowers into settling. Today, his guilty plea was recorded and he is due back in court on September thirteenth for mitigation.

Immigration Officer Accused of Extorting Three Thousand US Dollars Back in Court

The immigration officer accused of extorting three thousand U.S. dollars from a Jamaican traveler was back in court today where she was provided full disclosure of her case. Allegations are that in March of this year, thirty-one-year-old Monique Escalante demanded three thousand U.S. dollars from Jamaican national Janhoi Richards while he was at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Escalante claims that she was legally authorized to do so as an immigration officer. The disclosure amounted to one hundred and four pages and three CD’s that make up the evidence which the police will be relying on to prove a case against her. Escalante’s previous attorney Audrey Matura had claimed that her client was innocent, and her arrest was a scapegoat for the corruption of senior immigration officers. Escalante is now represented by attorney Leslie Hamilton and her next court date is set for November eighth, 2024.

Danny Mason Seeks C.C.J. Intervention to Overturn Murder Conviction

It is arguably the most sensational case in Belize’s judicial history – the murder trial and conviction of businessman, Danny Mason and four others. Mason, along with Ernest Castillo, Ashton Vanegas, and brothers Keiron and Terrence Fernandez were convicted in 2019 of the 2016 murder of Dangriga Pastor, Llewelyn Lucas. The high-profile case saw several witnesses take the stand for the prosecution in a trial presided over by Justice Antoinette Moore. Pastor Lucas’ burnt remains were discovered on Mason’s ranch, located off the George Price Highway a few miles from his Belmopan home. His head was found in a bucket in a vehicle that Mason and his co-defendants were occupying. At the end of the trial, the five men were handed down life sentences with the possibility for parole after they have each served thirty-five years behind bars, less the time they spent on remand. Mason appealed the conviction at the High Court, and it was turned down. Now, through his attorney, Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington, he is attempting to seek the intervention of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Late this evening, Elrington explained the process of that appeal.

Hubert Elrington, Attorney for William “Danny” Mason

“On the 11th of July, the Court of Appeal turned down his appeal for murder conviction and so we are now going to make the final attempt to get the conviction set aside at the C.C.J.”

Reporter

“So what does this mean now?”

Hubert Elrington

“It means we have to apply to the C.C.J. for leave to appeal. That is the procedure. And then they will set the timetable.”

Mark Stevens Refuses to have His Fingerprint Taken in Court

Thirty-six-year-old Mark Stevens, accused of the attempted murder of Juan Carlos Rios Pineda on June eighth, appeared in court today when he was escorted from the Belize Central Prison. His appearance this morning, before a magistrate, took an interesting turn when Stevens refused to have his fingerprint lifted by police experts. While the court granted permission for his fingerprint to be taken, after partial prints were lifted from a knife allegedly used in the Pineda’s stabbing, Stevens put up a fight, refusing to comply with the orders of the magistrate. On Saturday, June eighth, police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they observed Pineda suffering from multiple stab wounds. Initial investigation revealed that he was walking his dog in the Lord’s Ridge Cemetery when he was approached by an individual he knows as Mark Stevens. Pineda said he made several attempts to evade Stevens by running home, but Stevens ran towards him and stabbed him multiple times with a kitchen knife. Pineda’s landlord attempted to stop Stevens from inflicting the injuries, but he was unsuccessful in doing so. While Stevens refused to cooperate with the taking of his fingerprint earlier today, another attempt will be made to do so at the Belize Central Prison where he remains on remand.