A tourist is in police custody after allegedly scamming a high-end resort of twenty-seven thousand dollars. Reports are that a man who identified himself as forty-year-old American national Nicolas Paula arrived at the It’zana Resort on February fifth seeking accommodations until February eighth. He allegedly presented proof of a ten thousand U.S. dollar online transfer to secure the reservation. However, when the transaction did not come through, Paula was confronted by the resort’s management. Paula reportedly requested a six-day extension to his stay in order to have the transaction processed. He then allegedly provided more falsified evidence showing a ten thousand dollar U.S. dollars transfer. Paula vacated his room on February thirteenth without settling his bills that amounted to thirteen thousand, five hundred U.S. dollars. The resort’s management made a report to police and News Five has been reliably informed that Paula was detained in Placencia today at another high-end resort. He was reportedly discovered with falsified travel documents, cash and other illicit items. It is believed that Paula is actually a Costa Rican named Christopher Marchena. We will continue to follow these reports.
Category: Trials
A Mennonite Farmer is Arrested for Murder in Corozalito
A Mennonite farmer was arraigned on a single charge of murder when he appeared in the lower court in Belize City this morning. The victim, thirty-three-year-old Alexander Viamill, was reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with David Friesen when he was apparently strangled to death with a charging cable. The arrest of twenty-eight-year-old Friesen follows the discovery of Viamill’s body near a bus shed in Corozalito Village last Wednesday. Ladyville police were responding to a missing person’s report for Viamill and, while searching for him, happened upon his body a short distance from the roadside. An investigation revealed that on February seventeenth, Viamill attended a dance in Maskall Village and, upon leaving the event, was said to be heavily intoxicated. He was reportedly in Friesen’s company. Earlier today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero provided a few additional details on the incident.
Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Wednesday, February twenty-first, police responded to a report at Corozalito Village in the Belize District, that the body of a male person had been found. Police visited the area where they found the lifeless body of Alexander Viamil with injuries to the neck and face. He was taken to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigation revealed that Alexander Viamil was last seen a couple days before Wednesday and was reported missing the day before. Police conducted an investigation and a post mortem examination was conducted on him and the results were handed to the investigator. As a result, David Friesen, twenty-eight-years old Belizean farmer of Corozalito has been arrested and charged for the crime of murder.”
Reporter
“Has Friesen related to the police why?”
Hilberto Romero
“The investigation revealed that they were involved in a fight, at which point Viamil received injuries which caused his death.”
Dangriga Duo Charged for Murder of Belize City Transplant
A pair of fisherman, both residents of Dangriga, has been arrested and charged for the murder of Delroy Menzies. As we reported on Friday, Menzies, who recently relocated to Dangriga from Belize City, was shot and killed while socializing at the Kulcha Kitchen on February twenty-second. On Saturday, twenty-eight-year-old Egbert Martinez and twenty-one-year-old Maxwell Ventura were charged jointly for the deadly shooting. Here’s more from the Belize Police Department.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Thursday, February twenty-second, around 9:20 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident at Plum Street in Dangriga. Upon their arrival, they found the body of Delroy Menzies, thirty-two years old. He was taken to the hospital where he was to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. [An] investigation revealed that Delroy Menzies was at a veranda, at a business place, at a location when a male person came and fired shots towards his direction, causing his fatal injuries. Two persons are in custody awaiting charges in regards to this murder.”
Reporter
“Any motive?”
Hilberto Romero
“We have not established a motive at this time.”
Brian August is Guilty of Causing Death of Vladamir Aguilar
A jury of nine has found Belmopan business man Brian August guilty of causing death by careless conduct. August was charged in connection with an accident in March 2019 that claimed the life of twenty-eight-year-old Vladamir Aguilar. It was alleged that August was driving a Chevy Silverado when he attempted to overtake a bus and collided head on into Aguilar’s motorcycle in the vicinity of Scotland Halfmoon. Aguilar was flung from his bike and he succumbed to his injuries. Almost five years later, August’s fate has been decided. After three hours of deliberation, the jury of nine unanimously reached a guilty verdict. The jury heard addresses from the prosecution and the defense. During his address this morning, prosecutor, Riis Cattouse, asked the jurors to pay keen attention to the elements that the crown must prove against August to substantiate the charge. Cattouse emphasized that August is on trial before the court for causing death by careless conduct. He told the jury that there are several elements that the crown must prove including, that someone died; that the death was caused by unlawful harm; that it was August who caused the death, that August was careless in his driving, and that he was going more than twenty five miles per hour. The law states that when driving in villages, drivers must be within twenty-five miles per hour. In his defense, August admits to knocking down Aguilar but claimed that it was not because he was careless, but because Aguilar was riding his cycle without any lights. Justice Candace Nanton has set sentencing for a later date.
Missing Corozal Man’s Vehicle Allegedly Turns Up in Burrell Boom
Fifty-seven-year-old Rosalito Pacheco, a taxi driver from Corozal Town, mysteriously disappeared in early February. Today, a family of three, a mother and her two sons, was dragged before the Belize City Magistrates Court to be arraigned for handling stolen goods. Police allegedly discovered Pacheco’s vehicle and keys at the home of forty-four-year-old Tricia Young, a resident of the Fresh Pond area in Burrell Boom Village. Young and her two sons, eighteen-year-old Imari Young and twenty-two-year-old Christopher Young, have been jointly charged with the crime of handling stolen goods. The trio appeared before a Senior Magistrate with attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley. At their arraignment, they pleaded not guilty to the charge. Their attorney then asked the Senior Magistrate to take record of his clients’ time of detention and when they were brought to court. Bradley contended that the time exceeded forty-eight hours and violated the rights of his clients. Imari and Devin Young also told the court that they were badly beaten by police officers while in custody. The brothers allege that plastic bags were placed over their heads during interrogation and that they were beaten with a two-by-four piece of wood. The court took note of these allegations and with no objection to bail, the trio was granted bail in the sum of two thousand dollars each, plus one surety of the same amount. The court also demanded that they report once a week, on Fridays, to the Burrell Boom Police Station. We heard from their attorney outside the courtroom.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney
“The disturbing thing is that in the case of the two sons, you heard them individually explain to the senior magistrate the ordeal that they suffered in the case of the second accused, I won’t call his name, he was badly beaten at the police station in Burrell Boom, where in addition to, as he said, wapped several times in a two by four and a plastic bag being put over his head while handcuffed to try to get some air and he was punched and kicked and the younger brother who is only eighteen also suffered some beating at the hands of the police to end up with a charge that they were handling a stolen vehicle which was not found in their yard. It is a serious matter for the police in the sense that the vehicle is said to be owned by a person who has gone missing. So we can understand that they are trying to breakthrough with an investigation but that is no excuse for what we heard in court this morning that the commissioner of police and the minister responsible for the police who are in government for three years need to have some written guidelines and public know. And don’t tell us to make a report at Raccoon Street, noting ever comes out of that. We need an independent investigative arm that deals with police officers who behave like criminals. That is uncalled for to try and suffocate someone to get information which they didn’t end up getting anything for.”
Mexican Car Theft Duo Handed Three Years in Prison
A pair of Mexican nationals will spend the next three years behind bars at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to the charge of theft and abetment to theft of two rental vehicles. Back in July 2023, a 2020 white four-door Kia Sorento and a 2021 white four-door Equinox, each valued at sixty thousand dollars, belonging to Budget Auto-Rental Car were stolen. The duo is comprised of Alejandro Gonzalez, who is charged with theft and Carlos Morales, who is charged with abetment to theft. They were arraigned on October 2023 and appeared today before Justice Nigel Pilgrim who stated that if the men had been tried and convicted before a jury at the High Court, then the penalty would be the same, which is no less than ten years. However, Pilgrim began the penalty at six years and after revisiting the case made before the crown and its proven elements, Pilgrim noted that the duo cost the company more than two hundred thousand dollars in losses and inflicted psychological damage as well. As a result, the starting penalty was raised to eight years. Pilgrim proceeded to deduct three years due to the pair showing signs of remorse and an additional year and eight months was deducted for their guilty pleas, leaving both with a three-year, four-month sentence for each car to be run concurrently. Pilgrim also ordered Vasquez to pay a sum of forty-six thousand, five hundred dollars with depreciation for the loss of the Equinox, while Morales was ordered to pay the sum of forty-seven thousand, seven hundred seventy for the Kia Sorento.
Brandon Gillett Appears in Court Following Gun Charges
Thirty-eight-year-old Brandon Gillett was back in court on Wednesday after being granted bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars for five firearm offenses he was charged with back in December 2023. The court bailiff, accompanied by attorney Orson Elrington, appeared before the Chief Magistrate where a date for full disclosure has been set for February twenty-eighth. On December twenty-second, three days before Christmas, Gillett showed up in court unrepresented and charges were read to him after police visited his home in Los Lagos to execute a search warrant for unlicensed firearms. They found two weapons, including a nine millimeter Glock pistol and a .223 Springfield Armory Rifle with several attachments for which he didn’t have written authorization from the Commissioner of Police. The search followed an incident that was recorded and shared on social media during which Gillett brandished the rifle in front of a group of churchgoers attending a funeral service here in Belize City. He was subsequently arrested and charged, remanded to custody for seven days, before being released on bail.
Incidentally, the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board announced earlier today that it will be conducting an audit and placing a moratorium on firearm licenses for .223 rifles. The release states, (quote), this decision comes as part of the board’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of firearms and ammunition in Belize. In addition to the audit, the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board has also decided to impose a moratorium on the processing of firearm licenses for .223 caliber rifles pending a review. This decision aims to ensure that the issuance of such licenses is done in a manner consistent and in the best interest of public safety, (end quote).
Three of Four Charges Dropped Against Men in May 2022 Shooting
In May 2022, two men, who had never been before the court on any criminal allegations, were charged in connection with a shooting incident that occurred outside of Icon Call Center. Those shots were fired into a vehicle that was being driven at the time by former Belize City Councilor Micah Goodin. As a result, Kenyon Tillett and Tarique James were arrested and slapped with four charges. But today, the crown withdrew three of those four charges leaving only one charge against the men. That is one count of discharging a firearm in public. Instead of the trial kicking off today, as was scheduled, the prosecutor informed the court that they will not be moving forward with the offenses of aggravated assault upon Tae Medina and Micah Goodin and one count of wounding upon Tae Medina. In court, Tillett and James’ attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley had issues with the prosecution wanting to proceed on the discharging a firearm charge because the alleged victims no longer wanted to take court action against his client. But the sitting Senior Magistrate told Bradley that it is the crown’s case and that she is prepared to commence the trial. The matter has been adjourned for a later date.
Chinese Businessman Remanded for Shooting Customer
Twenty-nine-year-old Wenjing Lei, a Chinese businessman, appeared before a Senior Magistrate earlier today where he was read two criminal offenses, including one count of use of deadly means of harm and one count of wounding. It is alleged that on February eighteenth, Reno Castillo was standing in front of Guan Fa Store along with another individual when an argument ensued between Castillo and the shopkeeper. According to the welder, during the exchange of words between himself and the grocer, Wenjing Lei, who was inside his uncle’s place of business, produced a firearm and fired a single shot which caught him in the foot. In court this morning, attorney Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley appeared on Lei’s behalf, where he informed the court that the virtual complainant was present to address the matter. The Senior Magistrate explained that there was no such instruction to the court and briefly adjourned the matter. This afternoon, Lei’s attorney did not return to court and his client was subsequently told that since the allegation made against him involved the use of a firearm, he would not be granted bail. With that, Lei was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until March first, 2024. We understand that Castillo has provided an additional statement to police in which he requested no further court action, however, that information has not been forwarded to the court.
Psychiatric Evaluation Ordered for American National
An American National is to undergo a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation in order to have her plea taken in court. She is thirty-eight-year-old Adeola Lara Ade-Ekisola, who was brought to court after allegedly assaulting a police officer. The mother of three appeared in court this morning where she had to be forcibly restrained for her safety and that of the others in the room during her arraignment. According to Ade-Ekisola, she is currently unhoused in Belize. She also stated that she is fearful of returning to the U.S. because of a threat to her life there and is seeking refuge in Belize. She demanded to speak to the U.S. Embassy to which the magistrate stated that they will be making contact on her behalf. Not much more could be made out from her statement, as they verged on incoherent. The court ordered that she undergo the evaluation as she in unable to give a plea. Until then, she has been remanded to Belize Central Prison.