Charge Against Nicaraguan Doctor Dismissed

Charge against Nicaraguan doctor Carlos Saborio Coze, 51, was dismissed yesterday. He was accused of putting a substance in a colleague’s drink on November 13, 2024. The Belize City Magistrates Court ruled there was “no case” against him.

The Chief Magistrate upheld the no-case submission from Coze’s attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, who cited gaps in the prosecution’s case. Bradley said that the defence applied the legal principle that allows an accused to challenge the sufficiency of the prosecution’s case once it closes.

The Chief Magistrate examined the evidence “step by step, issue by issue” and found that the law had not been satisfied “to establish the trial,” Bradly stated.

“The allegation is that he placed something in the complainant’s drink. No tests were done until the 4th day of December, with nothing in between to establish any of the allegations,” Bradley explained. “The person did not claim in court that he got sick. The test happened five or six days afterwards.”

Coze was charged with administering a noxious substance to Venezuelan nurse back in December 2024. The alleged incident occurred at Little John’s Restaurant. The nurse claimed he left his drink unattended and later saw surveillance footage suggesting Coze had tampered with it. He said he entered the doctor’s vehicle that night but did not regain full awareness until December 2.