In a case that sent shockwaves across Belize in 2018, the brutal murder of 68-year-old Martha Gonzales, a dedicated tamales vendor, has resurfaced in the legal spotlight. Gonzales, who traveled daily from Orange Walk to Pomona Valley in Stann Creek to sell tamales, cheese, and clothing, met a tragic end during one of her routine trips. Her body was discovered in a latrine on the property of Christopher Bradley, then 21 years old. Investigators revealed that Gonzales had been stabbed in the chest, wrapped in a tarp, and concealed in the latrine. The case took a chilling turn when Bradley allegedly took her bucket of tamales home, fed his mother, and gifted Gonzales’ chain to his girlfriend. In 2021, Bradley was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole for 28 years. However, he has now returned to court, appealing both his conviction and sentence. His defense attorney contends that critical evidence, including the chain and blood found at Bradley’s residence, should have been excluded. The prosecution, on the other hand, maintains that the evidence was robust and the sentence justified. A panel of three judges heard arguments today, and the outcome of this high-profile appeal remains pending.