Trials - Greater Belize Media

Keyren Tzib Skips Sentencing, Judge Orders Her Remand

Thirty-three-year-old Keyren Tzib was found guilty of the attempted murder of former coast guard colleague Kurt Hyde on March thirteenth and was granted bail by High Court Justice Candace Nanton in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars. She was scheduled to return for sentencing today but was a no-show. According to Tzib, she is afflicted with COVID-19; however, she failed to provide medical documents validating her claim. As a result, the conditions of her bail have since been revoked and the judge ordered her immediate arrest and remand to the Belize Central Prison where she will remain incarcerated until May tenth, her new sentencing date. Earlier today, attorney Arthur Saldivar spoke on behalf of his client who was absent from court.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-law

“Ms. Tzib is still represented by Mr. Bradley and his firm. I have come on to assist, join the team, so to speak, with a view to giving Ms. Tzib as many options or perspectives as possible going forward. Now as you know Ms. Tzib was convicted of attempted murder in court on the thirteenth of March and there were certain conditions imposed on her for bail extended to a convicted person. Given her state, emotionally and psychologically, and given the voluminous conditions, she was unable to fulfill and was found in breach. As a result, bail was revoked today pending sentencing on the tenth of May. We are now in a position where we are preparing submissions for the tenth of May. As you know, this is a very tragic situation. Ms. Tzib was a shining light for the coast guard as one of the first females to join and not only that, but her academic acumen and capacity being as high as it was, she was on a trajectory to do great things at that institution. It is unfortunate that the institution that she chose to serve actually marshaled itself against her, bringing about a very unfortunate incident that they should bear responsibility for happening.”

We have been able to confirm that Tzib has since been detained and remanded to the Belize Central Prison on the orders of the Justice Nanton.

Sand Hill Family Found Guilty of Attempted Murder

A family of three, including a mother, her daughter and son, has been found guilty of attempted murder. The decision was returned by a jury of seven. Sixty-eight-year-old Irene Budd, her daughter Ormencia Pou-Swift, and thirty-four year-old Aaron Fuentes appeared before the Justice Nigel Pilgrim two weeks ago. It is alleged that on September fourth, 2011, Fuentes and Blair got into an altercation in Sand Hill Village. During the incident, Fuentes left and returned with a machete and chopped Blair on his hand, severing his pinky finger. It is further alleged that Irene Budd, armed with an iron bar, struck Blair several times to the body, while her daughter ripped out Blair’s left eye with her finger. The trio has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May thirty-first, when mitigation pleas will be heard on their behalf.

Nando’s Says They Were Scammed Out of Nearly $50,000

Last night, we reported on the nearly fifty thousand dollars from the Belize Government Lottery that was line transferred into the wrong account and held by the account owner. On April twenty-third, thirty-two-year-old Kathleen Belisle was charged for dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit after the money was deposited into her account by the accountant at Nando’s Wholesale LLP, which is one of the Sales Agent for the Belize Government Lottery. However, a representative from the company has come forward with more details on the incident. According to them, the incident was not merely a matter of a mistaken account but is the result of identity fraud. According to Nando’s Wholesale LLP, Belisle’s number was saved under the name of Bi Yun Chen at Lowes Supermarket who is a Sub-Agent for the Belize Government Lottery. They claim that upon texting the number and inquiring about the transfer of funds that typically occurs between the businesses, Belisle pretended to be proprietor of Low’s and informed them that the bank account for the business had changed. Allegedly, after handing over bank information, Belisle made attempts to rectify the error and it was not until Nando’s Wholesale LLP was contacted by a Lowe’s representative that they were made aware of the scam.

Thirty Years for Convicted Murderer Dean Slusher

Dean Slusher, a convicted murderer, will serve a fixed sentence of thirty years in prison. That was the decision handed down by Justice Nigel Pilgrim today. Slusher was found guilty of the murder of land surveyor Philip Chin in 2004, two years after land surveyor Philip Chin was shot and killed during an armed robbery. That incident took place in February 2002, when Slusher, then nineteen years old, lured Chin using a honey trap to rob him of his firearm. He was initially sentenced to death, and that judicial punishment was later varied by the Court of Appeal to life in prison with no minimum term. When Slusher appeared before the High Court today, he was given a permanent sentence of thirty years in prison. Slusher was represented in court today by attorney Dale Cayetano.

Nimrod Tillett’s Extradition Hearing Begins in June

A substantive extradition hearing for Nimrod Tillett, accused of killing a woman in Mexico, will commence on June fifth, before the Chief Magistrate. Tillett is being represented by British barrister Tim Prudhoe of Turks and Caicos. The process to extradite Tillett began back in January and he was recently handed over a bundle of evidence containing one hundred and fifty pages as evidence that the government is relying on for his handing over. In court today, Tillett complained about his present medical condition, informing the Chief Magistrate that he is unable to access medication at the Belize Central Prison. Tillett’s attorney was instructed to submit to the court in writing all submissions by May fifth, while attorney Stacey Martinez, who represents the Attorney General’s Office, should respond and make submissions in writing by May thirtieth. Tillett’s attorney spoke with the media following the adjournment.

Reporter

“Sir, we were made to understand that your client does have some conditions, could you tell us about that?”

Tim Prudhoe, Attorney-at-law

“It’s no secret that he was badly hurt last year and he’s concerned about what will happen if he has to enter the Mexican prison system in that type of condition. So one of the issues with the extradition is whether or not there would be adequate care if he was to be extradited.”

Reporter

“Can you tell us how you got involved in this case? An agency had reached out to us saying that you have some level of expertise in difficult cases. How did you get involved.”

Tim Prudhoe

“Yeah, I’m an English barrister that’s done similar sorts of work elsewhere in the Caribbean… I was asked if I would take the case and I said yes and found out the facts. So it wasn’t very difficult. It’s obvious to me that there are issues in relation to the extradition that’s being raised in the court and we are due on the fifth of June.”

Reporter

“Sir, based on the level of experience, you come very qualified in dealing with these sorts of matters, can we have your professional opinion on Mr. Tillett’s case?”

Tim Prudhoe

“You mean the prospects of him being expedited.”

Reporter

“I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to answer that. Sorry, man.”

Gang Underboss and Two Associates Remanded for Drugs and Weapons

On Wednesday night, we told you about an operation carried out by the Special Patrol Unit on an island off the coast of Belize City. The organized action of the Belize Police Department to locate several gang members who fled from the Lake Independence area amid a state of emergency turned up more than just three men on Saint George’s Caye. S.P.U. personnel also discovered a quantity of illegal drugs, as well as a cache of high caliber weapons. This morning around nine o’clock, Edwin “Drive” Flowers, Gaston Barrow, and Kenyon Dominguez were escorted to the magistrate’s court after being taken into custody overnight. The trio, including Flowers, who is a ranking member of the Peace in the Village gang, is accused of having in its possession over twelve thousand grams of cannabis, two thousand, three hundred grams of cocaine, three high-powered rifles and two handguns. The men appeared unrepresented before a senior magistrate where they were charged jointly with two counts of possession of firearm and kept ammunition, as well as four counts of drug-related charges. Due to the nature of the offenses, bail was denied and Flowers, Barrow, and Dominguez were transported to the Belize Central Prison. However, prior to being taken away, Flowers sought permission to address the court and inquired how quickly a trial date can be scheduled for the pending matter. He was informed that the prosecution must first produce a case file which will be provided to them as part of the disclosure before a trial date is set. The men are on remand until July twenty-second when they will return to court.

Darrel Grant Handed Life Sentence for a Second Time

Today, a man was handed a life sentence in prison with a fixed term of thirty years for the murder of thirty-nine-year-old Sandra Ruiz. He is thirty-seven-year-old Darrel Grant, who was convicted for the 2008 murder of the Belize City resident and mother of two. Reports are that Ruiz was inside her residence in Kings Park when an adult male forcibly entered her home. He then proceeded to sexually assault Ruiz before bludgeoning her to death with a hammer. At the time of the attack, Ruiz’s two young daughters were at home, a thirteen-year-old and a six-year-old. The older of the two was able to escape the building before she could be harmed, however, the younger girl was found and attacked. Fortunately, she survived but was left in a coma for several days following the incident. In 2010, Grant was found guilty and handed a life sentence, after he was found wearing Ruiz’s necklace a few days after the incident. Today, Grant appeared before the court for resentencing and was again given a life sentence. In an apology from Grant, he said, (quote), I am sorry for what I did, I was young and immature, I am sorry to her family and for the pain to my family. I am sorry for what I did. I know I can’t bring back Miss Sandra’s life, (end quote). However, Justice Nigel Pilgrim noted that as Grant was twenty-two-years-old at the time of the murder, he was at a mature enough age to be held responsible for his actions. Pilgrim also considered the impact statement from Ruiz’s family members in mitigation. Ruiz’s eldest daughter said that following the death of her mother, she had to abandon her life in Belize and live with her father in another country in fear of her life. While Ruiz’s brother stated that no time in prison would ever bring back his sister.

Charges Withdrawn from Exhibit Keeper in Weed Gummies Case

Back in May 2023, Mario Bustillos, an exhibit keeper for the Belize Police Department, was slapped with ten charges of negligent harm after Belize City primary school children and an adult consumed cannabis-infused candies. Bustillos was accused of exceeding his authority by improperly disposing of the weed candies, which were labelled as found property. Bustillos did not enter a plea at that time, as the matter is being addressed through an indictment. However, News Five learned today that those ten charges were withdrawn in October 2023, six months after the incident. He now faces a new charge of willful suppression. His attorney, Nazira Myles Espat, told the court today that the compact disc provided by the prosecution is not functioning. The preliminary inquiry has been adjourned to May third, pending resolution of these technical difficulties. Bustillos remains on interdiction.

Adoptive Mother Sentenced to Five Years for Child Cruelty

Today, a sixty-three-year-old woman was sentenced to five years imprisonment for child cruelty. Reports are that between January and July of 2017, Anke Doehm, the adoptive mother of thirteen-year-old Faye Lin Cannon, willfully neglected the minor and subjected her to injury to her health. Doehm had adopted four female minors from China and took them to live with her in the United States, before migrating to San Pedro with her and her late husband. However, in 2017, the then, thirteen-year-old Faye died while in Doehm’s care. It was later confirmed that the minor had been malnourished, as well as physically and sexually abused. Doehm appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester today, who, after considering the aggravating and mitigating factors, handed down a five-year sentence with effect from march fourth, 2024 when she was found guilty. These factors included, in his view, a lack of remorse displayed, a lack of accountability, the neglect of the child and a failure to provide adequate meals and physical abuse inflicted by Doehm’s husband. Sylvester also noted that Doehm required psychological help and must be considered a danger to children in society. As a result, she must also enroll in every rehabilitation program at the prison, and she is not eligible for parole until after serving half of her five-year prison term. Doehm was initially charged jointly with her husband, David Doehm, however, he took his life before the case came to trial. Regarding Doehm’s medical condition, a recommendation was made that she must return to Cancun for follow-up treatment. Justice Sylvester took note of this and reassured Doehm that, according to CEO Virgilio Murillo, the Belize Central Prison facilitates medical treatment for prisoners and should a prisoner require outside treatment, arrangements can be made.

Accused Murderer Elmer Nah Proclaims Innocence

Accused murdered Elmer Nah continues to proclaim his innocence. He stands accused of murdering brothers Jon and David Ramnarace and Jon’s wife, Vivien Ramnarace. Last week, during the trial of the Bladen twelve, Nah slipped News Five a handwritten in which he said he was innocent and that an enhanced version of the security video which captured the murder could prove it. On Wednesday, Nah sent this newsroom another handwritten letter. In this latest letter, Nah highlights different time codes, pointing out certain aspects of the shooter. Today, we asked Police Commissioner Chester Williams about it.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“There are a number of evidence that circumstantial evidence that points towards Nah being the one responsible for that particular case, but certainly with what he had what he had provided, we will explore that possibility, but matter of fact, we are doing so at this time. So to answer your question, it is being looked at, but I don’t want it to come across as if we are exploring other possibilities because we’re not sure as to the nature of the case that we currently have against him.”

Reporter

So that video looks like. pretty grainy. Is there the potential to actually enhance that?

Chester Williams

“We have solicited the assistance of the U. S. Embassy and we had sent that video footage abroad and to some extent it was enhanced. Not as good as we wanted to, but the experts in the U. S. um, did do what they could do with it for us. The Matter of the escort, I believe I have addressed that before. We have looked at the surveillance footages from the van that normally does the escort as well as the barricade footages from the police officers who conduct this escort. And there is nothing, absolutely not one iota of evidence to support the claim that Nah is making. is not. You have to understand Nah is very crafty and now has an attorney who is who is ten times more crafty than he is. So, I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know what we have said to you that we have done the investigation and there is nothing to show that as you are claiming that there is reckless driving. No. There is none. There is none. The camera for the van is there. There’s no evidence to show that he has been threatened by anybody who escorted him.”