It’s been several weeks since we broke the story of an incident that allegedly involved a prominent Belize City attorney who stands accused of raping a pair of women. Tonight, forty-two-year-old Orson Jerome Elrington, better known as OJ, is out on bail after appearing before the lower courts this afternoon. His arraignment followed a single charge that was brought by the D.P.P.’s office in respect of a criminal report made against him. It is alleged that he raped a woman on the night of January twelfth, 2024. Shortly after midday, Elrington was escorted to the Queen Street Police Station where he was processed. Two hours later, he was taken to the Magistrate’s court on Coney Drive where he was arraigned in the courtroom of a senior magistrate. Earlier today, we caught up with Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Lyn Vidal who spoke briefly on the matter.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“I met with the complainants in the matter and based on what they said to me, we did additional work and it was at the end of that process that we were in a position to make a decision.”
Meanwhile, in the lower court, Elrington was accompanied by his father, Hubert Elrington, and fellow attorneys Norman Rodriguez and Michelle Trapp. The Senior Magistrate explained to Elrington that due to the nature of the offense, she will not take a plea. When the prosecutor was asked if he had any objection to bail being granted to the accused, he raised no objection. With that, bail was offered in the sum of eight thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. The conditions of his bail include reporting to the Belama Police Station every Tuesday, as well as surrendering his travel documents to the Clerk of Court. We spoke with Hubert Elrington and Norman Rodriguez following the arraignment.
Hubert Elrington
Hubert Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“We believe that it‘s going to be very difficult for any of them to defeat us in a criminal trial. That‘s all.”
Court Reporter
“Can I ask a question? We know that the norm here at court is that persons who are accused and charged with rape, normally there is an objection to bail. Today, there was no objection in court today. As it relates to the law, tell us how that was.”
Hubert Elrington
“I wasn’t in court when that was gone through so you would have to ask somebody who was there.”
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-law
“As it relates to the bail, there was no objection and if there was no objection then we really have nothing more to day.”
Court Reporter
“Okay, but as it relates to the law, does the offense of rape, does it appear as one of those offenses that the court can or cannot grant bail?”
Norman Rodriguez
“It is not listed in Section 16 of the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. As a result of that, the magistrate can grant bail and she did.”
Court Reporter
“Tell us a little bit about the conditions to his bail.
Norman Rodriguez
“It‘s the usual, he has to sign in once a week. He must stay or not come within a certain distance of the virtual complainant or any of the prosecution‘s witnesses. He is to surrender his passport and if he needs to leave the country, he has to get permission from the court. It‘s normal.”
An accused murderer is a free man tonight after a crown counsel in the D.P.P.’s office failed to show up in court. As we reported on Thursday, Shawn Hertular saw the charge dismissed by Justice Derick Sylvester because no one from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appeared in court. Hertular was accused of fatally stabbing Miguel Zaiden in November 2021. Prior to that charge, he was sentenced to twenty years in prison for a previous homicide. So, the man who was once sentenced for murder and charged with another is now a free man. So, whose fault is it? That’s what we asked the Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, today.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“Sometime ago that file was assigned to a particular counsel, and that counsel did not show up to work or to court yesterday. and that matter will be dealt with. I don’t want to speak any further on it.”
Hipolito Novelo
“But the murder charge that has been dismissed, right?
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“That was the indication from the marshal.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Yes. He’s basically a free man.”
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“At the moment. Yeah.”
Hipolito Novelo
“(He) can’t be charged with the same crime again.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“We will make a determination as to how we are moving forward with the matter.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So who’s ultimately to blame here? Basically no one from the DPP’s office was sent. Is it you to blame?
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“You’ve all been here. When I have matters, I show up on time.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Insubordination from your staff? I know we had issues between you and them in the past and the Attorney General’s office. Indication about ongoing tensions?”
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“I said it will be dealt with. There was a counsel who should have appeared to conduct that trial yesterday and that counsel did not appear and that was the consequence.”
Anke Doehm is the sixty-three-year-old American woman who the High Court found guilty of cruelty to a child earlier this week. Doehm was remanded to the Belize Central Prison after a nine-member jury unanimously found that she neglected her adopted daughter, thirteen-year-old Fay Lin Cannon, who ultimately died because of that neglect. She is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday, March fourteenth. Doehm may also be facing additional criminal charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, told News Five that based on what was revealed during the trial, her office will be pursuing additional charges against Doehm.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“Yes, Anke Doehm was convicted on Monday of cruelty to a child. Unfortunately, during the course of preparing for and prosecuting that case, a lot more came to light. And it may be that further action may be taken against her in the coming months, it may be.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is your office looking for the maximum penalty in this case?”
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“I don’t think in the circumstances she will get the maximum penalty, but we’re certainly looking at a custodial sentence.”
The Caribbean Court of Justice today dismissed an appeal brought by Nevis Betancourt. He is the man who was convicted of the murder of Jose Castellanos. In July 2017, Castellanos was shot inside a restaurant in Santa Elena Town. Betancourt was subsequently indicted and tried for murder. He was convicted and sentenced to twenty years in prison. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction. Betancourt appealed to the C.C.J. on the ground that the Court of Appeal erred in upholding the trial judge’s rejection of the defense of self-defense. The trial judge accepted the case for the prosecution, which was that Betancourt entered a restaurant, shot Castellanos twice before Castellanos chopped him with a machete. Betancourt continued to shoot Castellanos, who left the restaurant and thereafter died. The C.C.J. ruled that Castellanos did not act in self-defense, but rather that he was the aggressor. The Crown was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“Yes, I had to unfortunately come out of court to go to receive that judgment and the appeal was dismissed and the conviction was affirmed.”
Hipolito Novelo
“On what grounds?
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“Their argument was that there was a third version of events that the trial judge had not taken into account and so there was a resulting miscarriage of justice. Our response was that there was in fact no third version because on the facts that the trial judge accepted she had already found that he was not in fact acting in self defense. He was the aggressor and the court found favor with our arguments.”
Attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington was today charged with rape. He appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court where he was offered bail of eight thousand dollars plus one surety. The prosecution did not object to bail.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal told News Five, “I met with the Complainants in the matter and based on what they said to me, we did additional work and it was at the end of that process that we were in a position to make a decision.”
As we have been reporting, two women alleged that the attorney raped them. In January Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters that “According to them while on their way home they were told by the attorney that they would stop at his house for one final drink after which he would take them home. They agreed, and they stopped off at a house according to them and whilst at the house they continued to drink and taking some shots of tequila. One of them said that she drank to the extent that she could not recall what took place after leaving the nightclub until the next day morning when she was awakened on the bed in the nude beside the attorney who was also semi nude. And her other partner who was there with her at the same time told her certain things. According to them while they were at the house the night drinking, they began to become intimate and that intimacy lead to him having sexual intercourse with them against their will and then the next day morning when they went home the one who is from Belize City told her boyfriend what transpired and he told her to report the matter to the police. “
Attorney Oscar Selgado was found guilty of abetment to commit murder by the High Court a few minutes ago. The Justice found that Selgado tried to hire Giovanni Ramirez to murder Marilyn Barnes in 2019. Barnesi had filed a complaint against Selgado to the General Legal Council.
Selgado was represented by Adolph Lucas Sr. The prosecution was represented by Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl Lynn Vidal.
The People’s United Party remains on top after steamrolling all political opponents, including the United Democratic Party which it soundly defeated during the municipal elections on Wednesday. Tonight, we’ll begin with a recap of what transpired across the country on election day and how the blue machine overwhelmed the U.D.P. across all cities and towns with the exception of San Ignacio/Santa Elena. We’ll also show you what the Opposition Leader says following the stunning loss at the polls. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano to begin our post election coverage.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The opposition, as well as all third parties and independent candidates, was walloped at the polls on Wednesday by the People’s United Party. In hindsight, this bold prediction, initially made on Nomination Day by Party Leader Shyne Barrow, will likely go down in history as egg on his face.
Isani Cayetano
“What is your confidence on the ground, in terms of the municipal slates across all nine cities and towns.”
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader, United Democratic Party (File: February 21st, 2024)
“I want the Belizean people to see, with all humility, this is my projection. Nine, nine municipalities and it is not farfetched. There was a time where the United Democratic Party administered all nine municipality and no municipality was out of reach.”
Despite its best efforts, the United Democratic Party was trounced in Belize City, one of the most hotly contested municipalities in the country. By the time the ballots were being counted, halfway through the process, the PUP had already claimed victory over the Old Capital.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Returning Mayor, Belize City
“I always have to say thank you to the people of Belize City and I also have to thank God, he has been the person behind me. I have to thank my family, I have to thank all the people of Belize City. But clearly, some of the indicators, essentially, are really significant from some of the key polling areas, constituencies of Lake-I, Pickstock, Freetown, Caribbean Shores. Clearly those numbers that we are seeing and are being forwarded to myself, we’re looking, pretty, pretty good.”
A total of four hundred and fifty-two thousand, seventy-three ballots were cast during yesterday’s elections in Belize City. Of that amount, roughly sixty-three percent of votes were in favor of the ruling People’s United Party. For the UDP, things got off to a slow start and ended in much the same way.
Nelma Jones Mortis
Dr. Nelma Jones Mortis, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City
“If you notice, I think, thus far, when I checked, I think about three hundred and twenty of our pledges have cast their vote. Each standard bearer is responsible for their constituency and for bringing out the vote. We collaborate with them, in terms of when people approach us, we pass it on to the standard bearers. So each standard bearer has their machinery set up.”
It’s the same approach that was employed by the P.U.P. area representatives. In Freetown, Francis Fonseca was able to secure seventy-six percent of the twenty thousand, eight hundred and five votes. In contrast, the UDP only had four thousand, two hundred and seven votes, or roughly twenty percent of that total.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown
“So we have a very experienced team in Freetown and so we have a very clear plan. So today has been all about executing that plan. You know, we’ve been campaigning with the team with Mayor Wagner and the city council team over the past few months, since the start of the year, and the campaign has been very good. They’ve been warmly received in Freetown, both in Belama and here in King’s Park.”
Taken as a whole, the turnout in Belize City, as in other municipalities, was lower than expected.
Alisha Craig
Alisha Craig, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City
“I wish it was higher. I just checked the polls and they say it’s only about nine thousand out of thirty thousand. So, you know, that’s not really good, but maybe it’s a good sign as well. Like I said, that’s where the machinery, getting your taxis and everything in place to get out your voters. I think that’s what’s going to decide who wins the elections.”
Dr. Nelma Mortis
“ I was a bit disappointed in the low voters turnout, but I walked in confidence and I walked in confidence because I have put in the work and I have shared my vision and it’s up to the workers to decide who or what they expect for Belize City. And so, I did my best. I’ll be Nelma Mortis tomorrow, the same Nelma Mortis tomorrow.”
On the other hand, despite a low voter turnout, Eluide Miller was optimistic and remained so for the duration of the voting process, as well as the counting later in the evening.
Eluide Miller
Eluide Miller, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City
“I’m feeling very excited seeing our residents flowing in to cast their votes. It’s a really beautiful moment and so we’ve been working very hard over the past couple weeks, past couple months and so it all comes down to today. Today is what matters most. I am very excited and yeah, I’m happy.”
Ultimately, returning mayor Bernard Wagner has secured a third term in office, along with his team of ten councilors, five of whom are carrying over from the previous Belize City Council.
Isani Cayetano
“It’s rare that we see, if perhaps not the first time that we’re seeing someone go for three consecutive terms in municipal office.”
Bernard Wagner
“I am telling you it’s overwhelming for me, personally. Really overwhelming. When I started in 2018, I could never conceive in my own mind that at some point in time I would be grappling with the idea of being a three-term mayor. But I believe in the will of the people and clearly the people in Belize City have spoken resoundingly again. And so, we are really excited to be able to serve the people again.”
The harmony between the municipal and central government, based on the party in power, has been a topic of much discussion leading up to yesterday’s national vote. While it can be argued that municipalities should remain autonomous, it can also be debated that the alignment of both forms of government bodes well for initiatives being undertaken in all cities and town. Prime Minister John Briceño believes in the positioning of both entities for optimal performance.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think it speaks well for the party, both a national and local level because we have been ensuring that we are performing at the local level and one of the things that we did when we had a meeting with all of the mayoral candidates about three Mondays ago. And we’re telling them now that at the national level, I think that we have even a greater responsibility to be able to monitor them closer to ensure that they are living up to the manifesto promises and that also they can be managing the finances as best as possible, as efficient as possible and then we could join with them, that we believe we can do a lot more. For instance, my community development fund , I give twelve thousand of my community development fund, I pass it on to the town council because then we could double that money because we could buy materials with the money that that provides and the town council has the manpower to be able to do whatever small projects we want to do. Also this speaks well for central government because it shows that people are feeling the good work of what we’re doing, reducing unemployment by 3.2%, reducing the national debt from a 133% to 63% to be able to grow the economy much faster than IMF ever thought possible. These things have a positive effect on the lives of people.”
As we reported earlier, Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow predicted a clean sweep for the United Democratic Party across all nine municipalities. Well, tonight Barrow is admitting that he erred in making such a prediction. But, he says the U.D.P.’s failure at the polls was not all the party’s fault. He contends that foreign government interference and the People’s United Party’s increased infrastructural investments leading up to the municipals persuaded voters.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“In our democracy the people have to be convinced that the decision they are making is the right ne and unfortunately in Belize there were rampant foreign interference. You had foreign governments donating sixteen million dollars grants weeks before the elections, one million dollar grant in Belmopan to build houses, sixty days before the elections. Those things are disgusting and blatant interference. You have BTB fifty million dollar bond used for municipal projects sixty days before the elections for the candidates and you had this whirlwind blitz of government resources being used, national government resources being used to convince the people that something was happening. The other part is that we have more work to do as a political organization. Our candidates have more work to do to make sure we can penetrate all of the interference, whether it is foreign governments, the tens of millions of dollars being spent on elections, obviously the opposition cannot match that dollar for dollar. The way we could match it is through our capacity, our intellectual capacity, personalities and all the things that make you a potential area representative. I think we need to do work as far as strengthening our capacities so that we can convince people that despite them being plied with treats that we still have the highest cost of living ever, ramped crime corruption, the stevedores have a problem, the caneros have a problem, the teachers have a problem, right on the eve of elections.”
