标签： Belize

A weekend crime wave has shaken multiple communities across Belize, culminating in the detention of two suspects from Cayo District. The most prominent incident involved the robbery of two American tourists on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio late Friday evening.

Surveillance footage captured the moment of the assault, which occurred shortly after 11:00 PM. The recording shows one assailant, clad in a black hoodie, specifically targeting the victims as they walked. The women have been identified as 27-year-old Californians Halee Hackett and Emerald Estadrook.

The perpetrator made off with a bag containing high-value items, including a smartphone worth approximately $1,200 BZD, an undisclosed amount of cash, multiple bank cards, and the tourists’ passports. Law enforcement officials successfully tracked the phone’s signal, leading to its recovery from a drainage conduit on West Street.

This event was not isolated. The weekend witnessed a series of criminal activities, including a fatal confrontation during an attempted supermarket robbery in Santa Elena. In that incident, suspect Zeldon Thompson was fatally shot by the store owner. Additionally, Belize City reported an armed robbery attempt where two men on a motorcycle targeted a delivery worker.

Authorities note a troubling pattern, with approximately ten robberies recorded since the beginning of December. In response, police are urging citizens and visitors alike to adopt heightened preventative measures and immediately report any suspicious behavior to aid ongoing investigations.

A delivery worker in Belize City narrowly escaped an armed robbery attempt on Saturday afternoon thanks to the courageous intervention of nearby citizens. The incident unfolded at approximately 4:00 p.m. near the intersection of 1st Street and St. Peter’s Street, directly in front of the Ceviche Express establishment.

According to eyewitness accounts, two unidentified males mounted on a motorcycle targeted an employee from a local tortilla factory during his delivery route. The assailants brandished a firearm and made explicit demands for monetary compensation from the delivery personnel.

The potentially violent situation was defused when alert bystanders began shouting at the perpetrators, causing them to abandon their criminal endeavor and flee the scene without obtaining any possessions. Law enforcement authorities have been formally requested to initiate a comprehensive investigation into this attempted armed robbery.

Medical authorities confirmed that the delivery worker sustained no physical injuries during the confrontation. The swift community response highlights the effectiveness of collective vigilance in preventing street crime in urban environments. This incident represents the latest in a series of security concerns affecting service industry workers in the region.

BELIZE CITY – In his annual Christmas address, Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado unveiled comprehensive plans to advance the modernization of Belize’s law enforcement apparatus while strengthening community partnerships heading into the new year.

The Commissioner characterized the holiday season as an opportunity for “collective reflection, social unity, and renewed professional purpose,” urging citizens to transcend differences and embrace core values of service, compassion, and civic generosity.

Reflecting on 2025 as a transformative period for national policing, Dr. Rosado highlighted several institutional achievements. These included organizational restructuring initiatives targeting ISO certification, the operational launch of the Crime Fusion Center to enhance data-driven law enforcement, and the consolidation of intelligence operations through the integration of joint intelligence coordination with Interpol frameworks.

Additional milestones involved the creation of a specialized interdiction unit and expanded professional development programs across departmental ranks. These measures form part of the strategic “reforming, refocusing, and rebuilding” pillars that have already yielded “tangible operational outcomes,” according to the Commissioner.

Looking toward 2026, Dr. Rosado committed to intensifying technological integration, broadening community outreach initiatives, and implementing advanced crime-fighting methodologies to address violent offenses and enhance public security. He emphasized that departmental progress stems from “collaborative national effort” rather than isolated institutional actions.

The Commissioner extended appreciation to citizens for their “sustained trust and cooperation” while commending both uniformed and civilian personnel for their “unwavering dedication amid operational constraints.”

A fatal shooting occurred at Anna’s Supermarket located along the George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District, resulting in the death of a 21-year-old man alleged to have been attempting an armed robbery. Law enforcement authorities have identified the deceased as Zeldon Thompson, a resident of Esperanza Village.

According to official police reports, the incident unfolded when Thompson allegedly attempted to rob the establishment. The store owner, whose identity has not been disclosed, responded to the threat by firing upon the suspect. Thompson sustained critical gunshot wounds to his left ribcage and knee during the altercation.

Police investigators confirmed that Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene following the shooting. The case represents another incident in the ongoing pattern of retail crime confrontations where business owners have taken defensive measures. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event, including examining security footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events.

The shooting has sparked mixed reactions within the local community regarding self-defense rights and violent crime prevention. This incident marks one of several recent armed robbery attempts in the Cayo District that have ended fatally for the perpetrators.

A remarkable windfall has blessed nine fortunate individuals in Belize following the latest national lottery drawing. The Belize Government Lotteries Limited (BGLL) confirmed that all nine participants successfully matched the winning combination 4485 in the special $1 million jackpot event held on December 20, 2025.

The substantial prize pool will be distributed equally among the winners, granting each beneficiary an approximate sum of $111,111. This distribution pattern contrasts with the previous year’s outcome, which saw fourteen winners dividing the top prize, resulting in individual payouts of $71,000 per person.

This exclusive gaming opportunity was introduced by BGLL as a limited-time promotion, allowing participants to select their preferred four-digit sequence for a $5 entry fee. Ticket sales commenced on November 3, 2025, generating widespread public engagement and mounting anticipation throughout the nation as the draw date approached.

The state-operated lottery organization previously characterized this initiative as more than mere gambling—framing it instead as a communal celebration that acknowledges national progress while reinforcing BGLL’s dedication to social contribution through responsible gaming practices.

In a landmark judicial decision that has sent shockwaves through Belize’s legal community, the Court of Appeal has unanimously overturned the conviction of attorney Oscar Selgado, declaring his original trial fundamentally unfair and in violation of constitutional protections. The appellate court’s scathing judgment, delivered on December 19, 2025, exposed critical flaws in the judicial process that led to Selgado’s controversial ten-year sentence for abetment of murder.

The case centered on allegations that Selgado solicited the murder of Marilyn Barnes, a key witness in disciplinary proceedings that threatened his legal career. Prosecutors had argued that Selgado offered legal services to Giovanni Ramirez in exchange for carrying out the killing. However, the appellate judges determined that the trial court improperly admitted hearsay evidence after accepting that Ramirez was too fearful to testify, thereby depriving the defense of cross-examination rights.

The court identified multiple systemic failures, including the mysterious disappearance of critical video evidence from court custody and the reliance on unreliable voice identification techniques. In their strongly worded decision, the justices emphasized that ‘justice required more’ than the procedures followed in the original trial.

The ruling mandates Selgado’s immediate release and bars any retrial, citing the unavailability of the key witness. This decision has ignited intense scrutiny of Belize’s justice system, raising troubling questions about evidence preservation, witness protection protocols, and the adequacy of legal safeguards for defendants. Legal experts are now examining the implications for future criminal proceedings and public confidence in judicial institutions.

The acquittal of Oscar Selgado has ignited serious concerns regarding procedural integrity within the justice system. After enduring over twelve months in pretrial detention, Selgado was released when critical audio evidence—reportedly held by four separate government departments—mysteriously failed to materialize in court.

Legal representative Arthur Saldivar has launched a scathing critique of the evidentiary handling, suggesting systemic failure across multiple institutions. “The Director of Public Prosecutions possessed these recordings, as did the police department,” stated Saldivar. “The registry and magistracy also should have maintained copies. Yet none produced the evidence when required.”

This case bears striking resemblance to the recent Budna controversy, where surveillance footage from four separate cameras similarly vanished from official records. Saldivar emphasized this pattern represents “a blatant undermining of the justice system” that effectively railroaded his client.

While Selgado reserves all legal rights regarding his wrongful imprisonment, his immediate focus remains on caring for his ailing mother who suffered a stroke during his incarceration. The case continues to raise fundamental questions about evidence preservation protocols and accountability within law enforcement and judicial agencies.