标签： Belize

The Joseph Budna abduction case has taken a contentious turn, with Attorney Arthur Saldivar accusing the State of irreversible mismanagement and deliberate concealment of critical information. Saldivar likened the situation to “trying to put the genie back in the bottle,” emphasizing that the government’s actions have created a pattern of secrecy that the court must now address. He revealed that the government has filed two strikeout applications, a move he described as a standard tactic to delay or dismiss the proceedings. Saldivar further asserted that the State has withheld essential evidence, including unaltered video footage, and highlighted the failure of police officers to act as a significant part of the case. “When individuals with a legal duty fail to act, it constitutes an offense,” he stated. The case regained public attention this week when Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal confirmed receiving the case file from Prime Minister John Briceño. Vidal described the file as “less than nothing,” noting that it lacks sufficient evidence to warrant any arrests. Saldivar argued that the file should have been sent to the DPP immediately after the August 23 incident, which would have mitigated the ensuing controversy. Budna, abducted in Orange Walk in August, remains imprisoned in Guatemala, while Constable Barrington Flowers, accused of aiding the abduction, denies all allegations and is currently on full-pay suspension.

In a significant development, Reyna Urbina, a 46-year-old Belizean from the Orange Walk District, has been arrested and charged with two counts of labour trafficking and two counts of sex trafficking. The arrest was carried out by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIPS) Police Unit of the Belize Police Department. Urbina is accused of trafficking two adult women from Central America, subjecting them to forced labour and sexual exploitation. Following her arrest, Urbina was granted bail set at $10,000 with two sureties. She is required to adhere to stringent conditions, including surrendering all travel documents, obtaining court permission before leaving the country, avoiding any contact with complainants or prosecution witnesses, and signing in at the Orange Walk Police Station every Wednesday and Friday. The case has been adjourned to January 16, 2026. This arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving the ATIPS Police Unit, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Immigration Department, the Department of Human Services Alternative Care Unit, INTERPOL Belize, and several supporting NGOs. Authorities are urging the public to report any suspected human trafficking activities by calling 911, the Department of Human Services at 0-800-PROTECT, or Crime Stoppers Belize at 922 or via the P3 Tips App.

In a deeply emotional public statement, Dalia Vellos, 37, has opened up about the years of domestic abuse she endured, following the withdrawal of all charges against her niece, Christy Guzman. Guzman, 21, was cleared after new evidence revealed she acted in self-defense during a fatal altercation with Wilson Hernandez, Vellos’ abusive partner. The incident occurred when Hernandez was choking Vellos, and Guzman, holding a licensed firearm, shot him in a moment of panic, resulting in his death. The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Javier Chan, confirmed the charges were dropped due to the lack of evidence contradicting the account. Vellos emphasized that the shooting was not premeditated but a desperate act of survival. She also shared graphic text messages from Hernandez, which included threats and demands for her to commit suicide. Vellos used her platform to shed light on the pervasive issue of domestic violence, urging victims to speak out and document their abuse. She condemned the public backlash against Guzman, stating, ‘It was never planned—it was survival.’ Her statement concluded with a powerful message to other survivors, encouraging them to seek help and break the cycle of silence.

In a significant legal development, 21-year-old Christy Guzman has been exonerated of all charges related to the manslaughter of Wilson Hernandez. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced the withdrawal of charges on November 13, 2025, following the emergence of new evidence that fundamentally altered the case’s trajectory. Deputy DPP Javier Chan issued the directive on November 10 after reviewing the updated findings. The evidence revealed that Hernandez was assaulting his partner, Dalia Vellos, when Guzman, Vellos’s sister, intervened with a licensed firearm. The bullet, intended to disarm Hernandez, tragically struck his torso, resulting in his death. The incident, which occurred off-camera, left the DPP with no grounds to challenge the account, prompting the decision to drop the charges. Guzman, initially denied bail in September, was later granted conditional release in October, requiring her to report to the Belmopan Police Station biweekly and surrender her travel documents. The case stemmed from a domestic dispute on August 31, during which surveillance footage captured Vellos and Guzman handling the firearm prior to the fatal shot.