标签： Belize

Nearly three years after a 61-year-old church member drowned during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham, England, the leading pastor of the congregation has been formally charged with criminal manslaughter by gross negligence, British prosecutors confirmed this week.

The victim, Robert Smith, a 61-year-old resident of Brixton, London, passed away on October 8, 2023, after the incident unfolded at a private residential property on Slade Road in the Erdington district of Birmingham. According to court documents and local law enforcement reports, Smith had traveled from his London home to Birmingham specifically for the baptism ceremony, and had been an active participant in Life Changing Ministries, the local congregation organizing the event, for four years prior to the tragedy.

The ceremony, which was held in a small custom-built pool on the property’s garden, was originally intended to be broadcast live to the congregation’s remote followers on the church’s official Facebook page. Witness and platform records confirm that the live stream was abruptly cut off mid-ceremony immediately after the drowning incident, and the recording was permanently removed from the platform shortly after.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced this past April 8, 2026 that 48-year-old Cheryl Bartley, the senior pastor of Life Changing Ministries who led the baptism and is a local Erdington resident, has been charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter. Bartley is scheduled to make her first court appearance at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14, where initial procedural hearings will begin to outline the prosecution’s case and set future trial dates.

Local law enforcement has not released additional details about the specific circumstances of the drowning, nor has the congregation released a public statement responding to the charges in the weeks leading up to the scheduled court appearance.

More than five months after 31-year-old Arnaldo Andres Vellos was gunned down near his Corozal Town residence, law enforcement officials have secured murder charges against two local men in connection with the high-profile killing. According to official police updates, 20-year-old Brandon Alexander Sanker and 23-year-old Kevon Wayne Armstrong made their first formal court appearance on Tuesday, where both entered pleas to a joint charge of murder. The case carries an additional count for Sanker, who also faces an allegation of attempted murder linked to the same October 2025 shooting incident.

The fatal shooting unfolded on Halloween 2025 in the Finca Solana neighborhood of Corozal Town. First responders were dispatched to the area after receiving multiple emergency calls reporting gunfire, arriving on scene to find Vellos with multiple gunshot wounds just steps from his home. Emergency medical crews immediately transported the victim to a local medical facility, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission.

In the immediate aftermath of the killing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, who leads the country’s National Crime Investigation Branch, publicly confirmed that investigators were working on the theory that the shooting was tied to illegal drug activity. Law enforcement officials have consistently characterized the attack as a pre-planned, targeted killing, and have noted that both accused suspects were already known to authorities prior to their arrest in the murder case.

The arrest of Sanker marks his second run-in with the law this week. Separately from the murder prosecution, he is also facing charges for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition in an unrelated incident. That case also names two minor defendants who were arrested alongside Sanker in connection with the weapons offense.

As of the latest update, no further details about potential motive or upcoming court hearings have been released to the public, and the investigation remains active as police continue to piece together the full sequence of events leading up to Vellos’s death.

Law enforcement officials in Belize’s Stann Creek District have opened a formal criminal investigation into a reported rape of a underage female, after the victim and her family filed an official complaint with local police. The case, which dates back to late March 2026, marks a disturbing incident of sexual violence against a minor that has prompted active investigative work from regional authorities.

According to official police records, the formal report was registered on the morning of Tuesday, April 7, 2026. At around 9:45 a.m. that day, the 16-year-old victim arrived at a local police station accompanied by her father to detail the alleged assault and file her official statement. Police spokespersons confirmed that the teen told investigators the non-consensual sexual encounter took place on March 25, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m. at a location within Stann Creek District. The accused perpetrator is described only as an adult male at this early stage of the probe.

As of April 8, 2026, investigators have not released further details about the identity of the suspect, potential motives for the attack, or any updates on leads developed since the report was filed. Police have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, with detectives working to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and build a case against the perpetrator. Local law enforcement has not announced any arrests in connection with the allegation at this time.

A brazen public shooting in the heart of Belize City has left a local mechanic fighting for his life, with law enforcement launching a full investigation into what is being treated as an attempted murder. The violent incident unfolded on the afternoon of April 7, 2026, at the busy intersection of Kraal Road and Reggae Street, according to official police briefings.

When patrol officers received emergency calls reporting gunfire in the area, they rushed to the scene to secure the location. Upon their arrival, first responders learned that the wounded man had already been carried to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital by bystanders. Initial investigative findings confirm that the victim is 25-year-old Shawn Nolberto, a resident of Belize City who works as a professional mechanic.

Witness accounts and preliminary evidence show that Nolberto was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked Ford F-150 pickup truck when the attack began. He was not alone at the time: 25-year-old Arnel Copious, a gas pump attendant who was with Nolberto, occupied the passenger seat and was unharmed in the attack. As the pair spoke inside the vehicle, an unidentified male suspect walked up to the truck and opened fire, aiming multiple shots directly at Nolberto. The attacker immediately fled the area on foot before anyone could intervene or detain them.

Nolberto arrived at the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, and as of the latest update from medical authorities, he remains in critical condition. Police have not yet released any detailed descriptions of the suspect or announced a clear motive for the shooting. Investigations are still ongoing, with law enforcement asking any members of the public who were in the area at the time of the incident or have information about the attacker to come forward to assist with the case.

On April 8, 2026, the Belize Coast Guard announced the tragic passing of one of its dedicated servicemembers, Petty Officer Third Class Gianne Seline Cayetano, in an official public statement that opened with the somber line: “You have been relieved of duty. Rest in peace.”

Cayetano first joined the Belize Coast Guard ranks back in 2013, and after her transfer, she went on to serve in a key role as Personal Assistant to the service’s Commandant. Over her 13 years of service, she built a reputation for unwavering commitment and professional conduct that earned her widespread respect across the force. In its statement, the Belize Coast Guard emphasized that Cayetano’s unexpected death has left a deep wound across the entire close-knit Coast Guard community, noting that her dedication, professional demeanor, and warm presence left an indelible mark on all who had the chance to work alongside her.

News of Cayetano’s passing was first shared publicly by her twin sister, Janine Cayetano, this past Monday. In her announcement, Janine asked for public understanding, requesting “love, patience, and strength, not only for our family but for everyone whose life was touched by Gianne.”

Beyond her service to the Belize Coast Guard, Cayetano built a respected profile across the country’s sports community as a talented athlete and dedicated supporter of local football. Her sudden loss has also triggered an outpouring of grief from her extended family. One relative spoke to the shock and pain of the entire family, saying, “Mein, my sister, my friend and most foremost aunt to my daughters. We are surely in shock and grief over this reality.”

Colleagues who worked with Cayetano on recent service activities also highlighted her active contributions. They remembered her as a core, instrumental part of the 2026 Belize Coast Guard Women’s Month celebrations, and counted her among the most energetic and committed supporters of the Coast Guard team during the 2026 Wonder Woman Competition. As tributes continue to flow in from across Belize, many who knew Cayetano remember her as a constant source of joy: a person who was always happy, laughing, smiling, cracking jokes, and bringing energy to group games.