Judge Refuses to Stop Christmas Eve Murder Trial, Orders Defendant to Answer Charges

A High Court judge has rejected a bid by accused murderer Shaquile Perera to have his case thrown out, ruling on 20 March 2026 that there is sufficient evidence for the trial to continue.

Perera is charged with murdering Darnell Puerto and attempting to murder Jehvon Ramclam at a Belize City home on the night of 24 December 2023. The prosecution alleges he shot both men, killing Puerto and wounding Ramclam.

The defence argued the case should be stopped because the sole identifying witness, Ramclam, gave inconsistent evidence about how and when he first saw the shooter. The defence also raised concerns about potential bias (Ramclam admitted he already knew Perera from an earlier incident involving his brother) and argued that medical and ballistic evidence contradicted Ramclam’s account of where the gunman was standing.

Justice Pilgrim disagreed. He found that Ramclam’s recognition of Perera, a man he already knew, seen at close range in clear lighting for about 25 to 30 seconds, was capable of supporting a conviction if believed. Questions about the witness’s reliability, the judge said, are for the full trial, not for a half-time ruling.

The judge also noted that the defendant’s named alibi witness, Brandon Bowen, repeatedly failed to respond to police requests for a statement.

Perera must now decide whether to give evidence in his own defence. Justice Pilgrim, presiding over a mandatory judge-alone trial, will deliver the final verdict.

The Crown was represented by Kirk Brown while attorney Joanne Zuniga-Stuart represented the defendant.