In a landmark judicial decision that concludes a decade-long legal battle, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has reinstated manslaughter convictions against two Belizean police officers involved in the 2015 custodial death of teenager Hilberto Sotz. The ruling overturns a previous Court of Appeal decision that had cleared officers Leonard Nunez and Hallet King of charges.
The case dates back to June 8, 2015, when 18-year-old Sotz died under suspicious circumstances while detained at Caye Caulker Police Station for questioning regarding burglary allegations. A post-mortem examination revealed the victim suffered fatal blunt-force trauma that triggered a massive heart attack, contradicting initial police accounts of his death.
During proceedings, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal presented compelling evidence including testimony from another detainee, Manuel Guerra, who reported hearing desperate pleas and physical altercation sounds from the interrogation room shortly before Sotz was carried out unconscious. The victim’s mother, Carmelina Sotz, had consistently maintained her son’s innocence, noting he was attending school in Belmopan when the alleged burglaries occurred.
The case sparked national outrage and violent protests on Caye Caulker, eventually leading to reduced charges against the officers in 2016 due to insufficient evidence for murder convictions. While a 2019 manslaughter conviction was initially overturned on appeal, the CCJ’s unanimous decision now sends the case back to the Belize Court of Appeal for sentencing determination.
Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee delivered the court’s ruling, stating all five justices agreed to reinstate the convictions. This decision represents a significant victory for judicial accountability in Belize and highlights ongoing concerns regarding police conduct and custodial safety protocols throughout the Caribbean region.