The long-running trial of seven men accused in one of Belize’s largest drug busts has collapsed and will now have to start over. The decision came on Tuesday, when Magistrate Kara Walters abruptly recused herself from the case, bringing an unexpected halt to proceedings that had been ongoing for three and a half years in the Cayo Magistrate’s Court.
The case stems from a major drug plane landing in late November 2021 in the Mountain Pine Ridge area, where police seized over 1,200 pounds of cocaine and detained several individuals, including a Mexican national identified as the copilot. It was a high-profile bust that drew regional attention and marked a significant success for law enforcement at the time.
The accused—Salus Penner, Eric Young, Miguel Angel Zetina, Edwin Armando Gonzalez, Jaime Umberto Maz, Edilberto Medrano, and Mexican national Jesus Alberto Quintero—have been facing charges related to the incident. Quintero has remained on remand since the time of the arrest.
There are five defence attorneys and two prosecutors assigned to the case, which had been making its way through court since early 2022. However, according to reports, recent courtroom sessions became heated. Hard words were allegedly exchanged between lead prosecutor Alifah Elrington and Magistrate Walters during the last two hearings—tensions which may have ultimately prompted the magistrate’s decision to recuse herself.
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams confirmed that the move came after a formal submission from the prosecution.
“From the briefing I got from the prosecutor Ms. Elrington, there seems to have been some issue in the courtroom where she believes that the case was not going as it should and that there may have been some degree of bias on the part of the magistrate,” Williams explained. “And based on that, she made a submission to the magistrate for the magistrate to recuse herself. That submission was accepted and the magistrate recused herself, and so we just have to look forward to a new trial.”
But the implications are significant. With the trial now needing to restart under a new magistrate, defence attorneys say the prolonged delay could raise legal concerns.
Restarting the trial will not only prolong the process—potentially by several more years—but it also represents a costly legal undertaking, with multiple attorneys and defendants involved. For the accused, particularly those still in custody, the delays add to an already lengthy wait for justice in one of Belize’s most complex narcotics prosecutions in recent memory.
A concerned commuter is calling on the Department of Transport to take immediate action after repeated incidents involving a passenger bus dangerously stopping outside designated bus zones along the George Price Highway.
In a message sent to our newsroom, the individual highlighted a recurring issue involving a bus, which was once again seen stopping on a speed bump near Teakettle Village to pick up students on Wednesday morning. According to the concerned citizen, this is not a one-time occurrence but rather a daily hazard that puts both passengers and other motorists at risk.
“These buses are not stopping at the bus stops to pick up passengers,” the individual wrote. “Something needs to be done and penalize these bus companies as they put both passengers and other drivers at risk.”
The source also mentioned that they had previously reached out to other media outlets without success and urged that the matter be brought to the attention of the newly appointed CEO of the Ministry of Transport.
“This isn’t the first time this same bus is stopping on the bump for students—it’s a daily issue,” the message continued. “Please repost on your page to bring some awareness and let’s call on the new CEO for the transportation department to take action.”
The Ministry of Immigration in Belize has introduced a new confidential feedback system aimed at improving the delivery of services across its offices and ports of entry.
The system, which came into effect on Wednesday, allows members of the public to submit anonymous feedback—ranging from complaints and suggestions to compliments—by scanning QR codes posted at immigration facilities nationwide. Users can then send their messages via WhatsApp or email.
Officials say the initiative is part of wider efforts to boost transparency and professionalism in the public service. All feedback received will be handled confidentially and used to guide improvements across the Ministry’s operations.
In a statement, the Ministry said the move reflects its commitment to accountability and continuous improvement in how services are delivered.
“We believe that listening to the experiences of the public is essential to building trust and ensuring efficiency,” the statement read.
The Ministry has encouraged citizens and visitors to make use of the new platform to help shape a better experience at immigration service points.
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has submitted a formal request to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise electricity rates beginning 1 January 2026. If approved, the average cost of electricity would increase from $0.40 to a minimum of $0.43 per kilowatt-hour, lasting through to the end of the current Full Tariff Period on 30 June 2028.
BEL is now awaiting the regulator’s review and response.
The company’s proposal also includes the full implementation of a previously approved Demand Charge Rate system, which combines time-of-use pricing with demand-based charges. This would apply to both traditional customers and those participating in distributed generation (DG) systems.
BEL cites several reasons for the proposed increase, including growing electricity demand met by increasingly expensive power sources, rising operational and maintenance costs due to inflation, and the need for substantial investment in grid modernisation.
Planned improvements include connecting new utility-scale renewable energy projects and battery storage systems.
BEL stated in a statement, “The proposed adjustment seeks to recover past energy supply costs borne by the Company to meet the demand for electricity, which were in excess of revenues collected from Customers.”
Today has been upsetting for animal lovers and concerned Belizeans. A shocking video surfaced on Facebook, showing three teenagers brutally attacking a horse named Oney. The video, which has gone viral, depicts the boys senselessly chopping the horse while it was tied to a tree, trying desperately to escape. News Five confirmed that this horrific incident happened near the Faber’s Road extension here in Belize City. Oney belongs to a sixteen-year-old boy who used to be friends with the attackers. He claims they stole his horse and tried to extort him for its return. The Belize Police Department, along with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, and several animal activist groups, have stepped in. Oney is now recovering, but his future remains uncertain. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on this distressing story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A shocking video showing three young men brutally attacking a horse with a machete has sparked national outrage. The perpetrators, aged sixteen, seventeen, and nineteen, and residents of Pitter Street in Belize City, have been identified and detained by police. Following the video’s viral spread on social media, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams took to Facebook to strongly condemn the act. He emphasized that the Belize Police Department is taking the matter very seriously and will do everything in its power to bring those responsible to justice. We spoke with ComPol Williams for more details.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I can tell you we are looking at the possibility of charges for cruelty to animal and we will seek further advice from the DPP to see if there is any further charges that can levied against those individuals. We need to send a strong signal. We are seeing that this type of occurrence is becoming more prevalent where animals are being treated inhumanely in such a cruel way. My thing is if these young men could have done to the horse, imagine what they could have done to a human being.”
The poor horse, named Oney, was left with severe injuries to its head and back. Today, a video surfaced showing that the injuries had worsened overnight, putting Oney’s life at serious risk. Reimers Feed Mill later posted on Facebook, offering to help with the necessary products for Oney’s recovery. We spoke with Rodrigo Blanco, the Marketing Manager at Reimers Feed Mill, to learn more about their efforts.
On the Phone: Rodrigo Blanco, Marketing Manager, Reimers Feed Mill
“To be honest when we saw the video we reacted the way everyone is doing, with such disgust, very disappointed that it is actually some young men performing such disgusted thing. For us as a company that really strives on animal care, that is something that we really don’t tolerate those kinds of things there. Our first reaction was to see how we could render assistance. I know the public was trying to get assistance for themselves but we just wanted to ensure that companies can come together and help with this situation.”
By late morning, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority had already stepped in to treat Oney. Dr. Jonathon Pech, the Deputy Technical Director of Animal Health at BAHA, reached out to Reimers Feed Mill and accepted their generous offer. BAHA also received support from the Animal Medical Centre. We caught up with Dr. Pech in Belize City as he was wrapping up hours of treatment on the horse for the day.
Jonathon Pech
Dr. Jonathon Pech, Deputy Technical Director, BAHA
“As I arrived I saw a horrific scene that the animal had some chop wounds and they were very devastating. I have been practicing in Belize for almost twelve years now. IN all that time I believe this is some of the worst injuries I have seen. I have seen some chop wounds but nothing like this. I saw there was a slah on the right shoulder and above the right eye and it had some minor injuries as well on the legs.”
Paul Lopez
“And what was its state this morning, in terms of those injuries?”
Dr. Jonathon Pech
“It was full of worms, highly infested.”
According to Doctor Pech, samples were taken from the horse to determine if screwworms are in the area.
Dr. Jonathon Pech
“I am certain that it is going to pull through, as long as the treatment is given then the probability is high of the horse going back to being normal.”
Paul Lopez
“You have guided to the owner.”
Dr. Jonathon Pech
“I have instructed, but the person says he will get someone that knows more about horses to come and administer medications.”
The horse’s owner is sixteen-year-old Devonte Broaster. With his father’s consent, we spoke with Devonte, who shared that he bought Oney two months ago from a group of young men in Belize City who were mistreating the animal.
Devonte Broaster
Devonte Broaster, Horse Owner
“Deh thief my horse so they took it round suh and hide and tell me that they don’t have it. They chop up him.”
Paul Lopez
“When you see that video what did that do to you?”
Devonte Broaster
“That hurt me, like I feel it in me. I feel it for him. I don’t know what is going on with deh bally. This dah the first horse I ever get, the first horse, I love ah. The way how I get dah video, the own people deh weh chop up the horse send me the video and I just send it to the police deh. Deh the try tek me real light, deh the talk bout I need to give them a bike and money to get back my horse.”
Paul Lopez
“You have any issues with them?”
Devonte Broaster
“No, I use to hang with deh bally. I don’t know what is going on with them.”
Paul Lopez
“What you plan to do with Oney after this?”
Devonte Broaster
“I plan to bring ah back and send him to village for some time and then I will ride him, but I just wah lef ah deh mek ih get back.”
The Society for the Promotion of Animal Rescue and Kindness, based in Belize City, is outraged by the brutal attack on the horse seen in the viral video. They’ve noticed a troubling increase in animal abuse reports in the Old Capital and have been fighting against this cruelty for a while. This latest incident has them questioning the state of our society.
Michelle Rudon
Michelle Rudon, President, SPARK
“It started from last week with the other situation with the little brown horse. This is something very heartbreaking for us, because we have been fighting it for so long. We have been fighting trying to bring about change and help for these animals. Seeing that video is something I will never get out of my head. WE should not have come to this. Something should have been done before to help these animals. You are barely getting over that one and then there is three four more cases, like what is happening to our society, where are we headed? What is brining about these horrific cases of abuse.”
Georgia Luis
Georgia Luis, Volunteer, SPARK
“When I initially saw the horse, the first one, the little brown horse, I was in shock and I could not believe that us as humans could experience this kind of behavior and as Michelle said, three more animals after that and the one yesterday with the cutting of the animal is just the worst and it ahs to be at some point stop somewhere and just with the media a lot of people are coming out and that is what we need.”
Halima Santos, the financial officer at SPARK, questioned the effectiveness of the current animal abuse laws. She pointed out that the fine for the horrific abuse seen in the video is only a measly one hundred dollars.
Halima Santos
Halima Santos, Financial Advisor, SPARK
“There is a law in place for animal cruelty that talks about animal cruelty and abuse, it is not being used or even put into action, but I think it needs to because at this moment it is not just the horses being abused, it is animals, dogs and animals across the board. We need to go back to the table and make revision of these laws to include imprisonment, especially those who are often doing this sort of cruelty to animals. We want to spread awareness that there is a law for animals being abused. We want to spread awareness to help a voiceless animal who is in dire need. I would like to add on the support of the police department, because yes it is just an animal to them, but they too need help, they too are being abused. We don’t want that when we call the police department they don’t move because it is not a person. It is not an huma being, but it is an act of a crime. So we need the support of the police department to act on these kind of things and give assurance because yes you have done a crime and something will come out of it and another case comes up another day and put aside.”
We spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams about the hundred-dollar fine, which is the maximum penalty for animal abuse. We also addressed the criticism that the police don’t take animal abuse reports seriously. Here’s what he had to say.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Unfortunately it is a misdemeanor so it does not carry a stiff penalty so these are things we have to look at to see how we can transform the law. The laws we have in place for these kinds of acts are antiquated. They have been in place post independence. Times have changed so there is a need to look at those laws to see how we can strengthen it to serve as a deterrent to those who may wish to continue those types of activities.”
Paul Lopez
“My understanding is that the fine is somewhere around one hundred dollars. Is that your understanding?”
Chester Williams
“Somewhere around there yes.”
Paul Lopez
“The criticism is that whenever police is called to reports of animals abuse where horses are concerned, and animal abuse in general, they don’t take these reports seriously.”
Chester Williams
“The thing is we try to do as best as we can. There are instances where we require the support of the owners and we don’t get that support. While the penalties for the offense, which is cruelty to animals, may carry a small fine, we are also looking abatement to commit cruelty to animal. The abetment will take the penalty more severe. So we are hoping to go that route to send a stronger signal to those young men and to others who may have in mind to carry out such acts.”
The Belize Police Department is also looking into another horse-related incident. Joshua Trapp, a forty-four-year-old tour guide from Ladyville, reported that fifteen of his horses went missing from his ranch on Wednesday. He managed to find eight of them, and searches continued throughout the day for the remaining seven. There were rumors that the injured horse in Belize City might be one of Trapp’s stolen horses. However, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Oney’s owner have confirmed that this is not true.
Reporter
“We know that police are also investigating the other horse incident with Mr. Trapp. He believes that the horse that was chopped is one of his that was stolen long ago.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“No, we have confirmed this horse belongs to a person who lives in the Fabers Road area. We have contacted that person. I am happy to see that BAHA came in and provide treatment to the horse. I saw a video footages on social media where it depicts the horses were already being eaten by these dead flies and I am hoping they can continue the treatment until they make a full recovery.”
Paul Lopez
“Just for clarity, you see the reports, this have nothing to do with the fifteen weh gone missing?”
Devonte Broaster
Devonte Broaster, Horse Owner
“No boss, this is nothing to do with the fifteen.”
After a nine-day investigation, police have arrested and charged Duane Wite for the murder of twenty-year-old Coby Ledlon. On March thirty-first, Ledlon was socializing on Iguana Street in Belize City when a gunman approached and shot him twice, including once in the head. At the time, police were holding a media briefing in southside Belize City and quickly responded to the scene. Ledlon was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in critical condition but sadly died the next day. He appeared in court today, where he was charged with murder. No plea was taken, and bail was denied due to the severity of the crime. He will remain in custody until his next court hearing on June thirtieth, 2025. Tonight, Wite, a twenty-year-old construction worker, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for the murder.
