标签： Belize

In a landmark verdict, two law enforcement officers have been found guilty of perverting the course of justice in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of off-duty BDF soldier Jesse Escobar. BDF Private Ramon Alcoser and Police Corporal Juan Carlos Morales were convicted after a magistrate determined that their statements regarding the incident were “entirely fabricated.” The ruling came after video evidence from the Branch Mouth Stop & Shop Store in Santa Familia unequivocally demonstrated that Escobar neither behaved aggressively nor attempted to disarm the officer who shot him. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal hailed the decision as “extremely important,” emphasizing that the magistrate dismissed the defense’s argument that the officers were too “tired” and “hungry” to provide accurate statements. Vidal stated, “The recording clearly showed that Jesse never reached out to grab anyone’s gun and was not acting aggressively toward the shooter.” She further underscored that the conviction serves as a stern warning to law enforcement officers who might consider distorting the truth. “This case sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in the future,” Vidal added. Both officers have been remanded in custody pending their sentencing next month.

In a scathing critique of the police investigation into the abduction of Joseph Budna, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has labeled the case file as ‘less than nothing.’ Vidal, who received the file last week, expressed her disappointment, stating that she had anticipated a thin file but was shocked by the lack of substantive information. ‘I apologize as director for saying this, but I was expecting nothing. What I was not expecting was less than nothing,’ Vidal remarked. She emphasized that her office is currently reviewing the file as a team but noted that, based on the information provided, no arrests can be made at this time. ‘Very few people saw anything, and what they saw, they are not too sure about,’ she explained. The case was handed over to the DPP by Prime Minister John Briceño, who opted against an independent investigation due to the Attorney General’s advice that there was no legal framework to support it. Budna was abducted in Orange Walk in August, and while Constable Barrington Flowers was initially accused of aiding in the abduction, he has since been moved to full-pay suspension and denies all allegations. Budna remains incarcerated in a Guatemalan prison.

A chilling discovery in the Orange Walk District has prompted a thorough police investigation. On the morning of November 12, 2025, human skeletal remains were found near the Orange Walk Bypass. The remains were located inside a small wooden house approximately half a mile from the main road. The grim find was reported by a passerby, who noticed the body in an advanced state of decomposition. Authorities have confirmed that DNA testing will be conducted to identify the deceased as the investigation progresses. The case has drawn significant attention, with local residents and social media users expressing concern over the unsettling discovery.

A shocking incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has left the community in disbelief after a 25-year-old man allegedly claimed a cockroach instructed him to commit a double homicide. Alexis Hernandez was arrested on the night of November 12, 2025, following the fatal shooting of one man and the stabbing of another inside a residence. According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Hernandez confessed to the crimes, stating he received an “encrypted message” from a cockroach that compelled him to act. Deputies arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m. after reports of gunfire. They found Hernandez at the door, armed with a firearm and a Marine Corps sabre. He reportedly told officers he was a Marine and “had to do what he had to do.” Inside the home, authorities discovered one victim with gunshot wounds and another with stab wounds in an attached apartment. Two young children were also present but remained unharmed. The case has raised questions about mental health and the bizarre nature of the alleged motive, leaving investigators and the public alike searching for answers.

Belize’s Senate has temporarily halted the passage of the Gaming and Lotteries Control Bill 2025, citing significant gaps in public accountability and community protection. The proposed legislation, aimed at overhauling the nation’s gambling laws, faced intense scrutiny following an investigative report by News Five on the Caribi Bleu Casino in San Pedro. The report revealed unauthorized operations, including an illegal ATM dispensing U.S. currency and an excessive number of golf cart permits, leading to the casino’s license revocation and the arrest of its owner, Ray, in the U.S. on fraud and illegal gambling charges. Church Senator Louis Wade spearheaded the call for revisions, emphasizing the need for ‘no gambling zones,’ community involvement in licensing decisions, and stricter safeguards against minors’ exposure to gambling. The bill, initially intended to consolidate existing laws, will now undergo further review to address these pressing concerns before returning to the Senate.