Kenrick Longsworth, the Belize City resident accused of murdering his three-year-old stepson, has been found guilty of manslaughter. As we have reported, on January tenth, 2020, Mark Teul’s mother found him dead inside their Lovely Lane home. He was allegedly beaten to death and sexually assaulted by Longsworth. Mark’s siblings were also found badly beaten but still alive inside the house. Longsworth was also slapped with two counts of attempted murder in connection with their injuries. Today, the High Court found him guilty of wounding, not attempted murder, but only in the case of one of the surviving siblings. He was found not guilty in relation to the charge that stemmed from the other’s injury. So, Longsworth was found guilty of manslaughter and guilty of wounding. In court, Justice Derick Sylvester concluded that while Longsworth admitted to hitting Mark, he claimed that he never caused the injuries that led to his death. But after careful consideration of the crown’s evidence, including that of the children’s mother, a neighbor who testified to Longsworth admitting to her that he beat the children that day, and two doctors’ testimony, Justice Sylvester ruled that Longsworth caused the injuries. Furthermore, Justice Sylvester noted in his ruling that while Longsworth did not intend to kill Mark Teul he lied, and because no evidence could prove his intent was to murder, he was found guilty of manslaughter. Justice Sylvester further concluded that the evidence provided was not convincing enough to link Longsworth to injuries that the other stepson sustained. During the trial, one doctor testified saying that the injuries observed on him were old injuries and not recent. Longsworth, who gave sworn testimony from the witness box, said he ended the relationship with the children’s mother and that is when she got mad and took out her anger on the kids and beat them up. He blamed the child’s mother for the injuries her two children sustained and the death of her son, though one witness had testified to seeing him beating the deceased child with a stick the day he died. Notably, Justice Sylvester did point out that based on the findings of two doctors, the children were being abused prior to January tenth, 2020 and that it was sad to see that they were kept in such an environment.
Category: Breaking News
Are Primitive Farming Techniques Responsible for Wildfires?
Slash-and-burn farming is an age-old practice that has proven to be more environmentally harmful than it has served any real purpose in agriculture. The wildfires that are being experienced in Toledo District are said to be fires that were being used to clear land for farming. Those fires reportedly got away and the devastation left in their wake has been astounding. While the Government of Belize has allotted a million dollars for relief efforts to families and farmers affected by the fires, there has to be a shift away from this destructive means of agriculture. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
As a small farmer, it is important to understand the need to prepare land for cultivation. The slash-and-burn technique, a method of agriculture in which existing vegetation is cut down and burned off before new seeds are sown, has been practiced throughout much of the world. Shifting cultivation, as it is also known, is widely used in southern Belize, particularly in Toledo District. On the downside, it has significant environmental drawbacks.
Augustine Chub, Farmer, Indian Creek Village
“Sometimes I sit down in my field and say [to myself], what to do to try and change my way of doing the farming. From there, one day a person dropped in and he told me [that] I should change the way of doing farming, you know, so that I could… Yes, I could clean bush, I could chop bush, but I don’t have to burn the place.”
Augustine Chub is a farmer who has spent all his life planting and cultivating crops in Indian Creek Village. Over the years, he has seen the negative consequences of deforestation that have led to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and soil erosion.
“In the month of May, we used to burn bush like crazy. But dehn time deh we don’t worry much about the area. We seh bush da bush, we could burn down and clear out, you know, even if we chop or we noh chop, but we just let go fire and fire start get away and go miles and miles eena bush.”
Forests are home to diverse plant and animal species. When we clear them, we disrupt ecosystems and reduce biodiversity. Many of these species rely on forests for shelter, food and breeding.
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer
“Some of the wildlife has been distressed because of the heat wave and the fires, etc. And so, biodiversity loss is a concern to us. Water pollution, air quality, poor air quality, et cetera, are also major concerns, and then, to some degree, loss of forest covers.”
Slash-and-burn practices, as well as wildfires, destroy their habitat.
Anselmo Cholom, Village Councilor, Indian Creek
“When this fire burned down…, I believe it chased away all the animals, the animals that were here and, you know, the plants, it destroys the trees. So we will have to, it will take a few years to get back.”
“I learned to do farming with my dad. We underbrush and fall bush, we underbrush with machete axe. Lone man work. We fall bush acres and acres we cut down and we burn it and we plant it. Well, according to my dad, that is the quickest way to do farming and that is the fastest way that you don’t have the weeds right away because you burn all the seeds of the weeds because ih noh will come right away.”
“One of the major concerns that we have with regards to the impacts that the fire is having and will have is that of the accumulation of ash on the forest floor. As you know, we are entering into the rainy season and as soon as the rainy season starts, the ash will wash into the drains, the drains to the creeks, creeks to rivers, and eventually to the sea. So that is something critical we are thinking about now, in terms of how to measure the impact that that will cause and so we have identified it as a concern.”
Santiago Cus, Farmer, San Miguel Village
“Just recently, Thursday, the fire entered this land, this land here and then burnt up all of the cacao fields, everything it burned up, couldn’t catch the fire. The fire passed and run. I have seven hundred plants of cacao by the boundary line there, all burnt up. I got Inga and then I got my cornfield all burnt up. The Inga was right over there but the help of the people and the helicopter was here on Thursday and that helped a lot. Without the helicopter that piece would have all been finished to ashes. But right now with the help of the helicopter, it saved that piece where I have my pig, I have my bees. I have a lee shed there for my cornfield saved, but all this burn up.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
He Killed his Stepson and Was Found Not Guilty of Murder
Kenrick Longsworth, charged with the murder of his 3-year-old stepson Mark Teul and the attempted murder of Mark’s siblings, Zemar and Markeem Teul, has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Additionally, he was found guilty of wounding Zemar but not guilty of wounding Markeem.
Justice Derick Sylvester of the High Court ruled that while Longsworth admitted to striking Mark, he did not cause the fatal injuries intentionally. The decision followed extensive evidence, including testimonies from the children’s mother, police, a neighbor, and two doctors. Despite Longsworth’s defense blaming the children’s mother, the judge concluded that Longsworth inflicted the injuries leading to Mark’s death, resulting in a manslaughter conviction.
The judge noted the children had been abused before January 10, 2020.
BAHA Refutes Rumors of Issuing Export License for Sugar
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) fired off a press release this morning, denying rumors that an export license was issued for sugar allegedly found being shipped out of the country at a northern Belize border location.
In its release, BAHA says that it is not a “licensing authority for agricultural commodities.”
“BAHA regulates imports to comply with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements as a risk management strategy against plant pests and animal diseases, and to ensure that only safe food is imported. Importers are legally required to obtain BAHA import permits, which details conditions for importation, for this process.”
BAHA says that BSI-ASR and Santander Sugar are the only two companies that receive inspection and certification services for sugar exportation. It says that the only authorized exit points are the Port of Belize LTD and the Port of Big Creek, where BAHA personnel ensure that only certified consignments are shipped out.
BAHA categorically denies any involvement in the irregular export of sugar to Mexico or any other country.
Op-ed -Protecting Our Oceans: Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing
by Javier Villanueva, Senior fishery and aquaculture officer for Latin America and the Caribbean. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
On June 5th, two highly relevant days are commemorated, strongly connected to the sustainability of fishing: World Environment Day and the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
IUU fishing represents a significant threat to the sustainability of the oceans, marine biodiversity, coastal communities, and the livelihoods that depend on fishing. This activity, conducted outside the standards and responsibilities established by international instruments, undermines efforts to conserve and sustainably manage fishery resources. In Latin America and the Caribbean, around 21.6 million people depend on the fishing sector, highlighting the importance of effectively addressing this issue.
The concept of IUU fishing, adopted through international instruments and national legal frameworks, encompasses broad and complex components that often overlap. This multifaceted nature poses significant challenges in its implementation. Understanding and operationally defining each aspect is a crucial first step in adopting effective measures that improve fishery management, considering the particularities of legal, management, institutional, operational, and governance systems.
For some years now, the FAO has developed methods to estimate the scale of IUU fishing, responding to the needs of fishing countries seeking to understand the extent of this activity. There are two main approaches: the first is based on magnitude estimates to mobilize public opinion, political will, technological development, and the financial resources necessary to improve monitoring, control, and surveillance systems; the second approach, focused on indicators, helps fisheries authorities use their data to assess the effectiveness of these systems, identify threats, and ensure that resources are appropriately allocated.
In the region, several countries have taken significant measures to combat IUU fishing. Currently, 15 countries have ratified the Port State Measures Agreement, an initiative promoted by the FAO and unique that establishes a common framework to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing, facilitating information exchange and international cooperation. Its implementation contributes to more responsible and sustainable fisheries management and currently has more than one hundred countries committed globally.
The fight against IUU fishing reinforces the FAO’s work agenda and is a component of the Blue Transformation program promoted by the Organization. This program highlights the need to sustainably expand aquatic food systems, promote healthy and nutritious diets, foster equitable growth, and protect the environment.
In preparation for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in France in 2025, Costa Rica will host the event Submerged in Change on June 7-8 this year. A new edition of the FAO’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report will be launched during this event, emphasizing the strategic importance of measures to advance fishery sustainability.
The future of the planet and future generations depends on the actions and commitments we make today together: governments, the private sector, communities, and international organizations must work in coordination to ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
Only through coordinated and sustainable efforts can we ensure that the oceans remain a vital source of food, employment, well-being, and livelihood for millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Better Production is key to a Better Environment, Better Nutrition, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
BSI Expresses Concerns Regarding COI
The Belize Sugar Industries Limited is expressing concerns over what it describes as the Commission of Inquiry’s change of focus.
In a release, BSI says that “because it operates in a commodity business that is very competitive, it cannot share proprietary and confidential information.”
BSI says it cannot disclose proprietary and confidential information. The company has also informed the government that it will not cooperate with a COI if its focus shifts towards using the process to negotiate a new commercial agreement, as this is a “private commercial matter.”
Aggravated Burglary Turns Deadly in Fresh Pond
Last night, just before the close of business, a pair of men walked into a small shop in Fresh Pond Community. They weren’t there to make a purchase. Instead, they carried out a deadly home invasion during which they relieved a family of two thousand, three hundred dollars and various personal items. Before leaving, they shot and killed an aspiring businessman who wanted nothing more than to become successful and take care of his family. Tonight, they are grief stricken and police are no closer to making an arrest amid an ongoing investigation. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Voice of: Sister-in-law of Deceased
“Usually my mother-in-law closes [the shop] at nine o’clock. So they were just going about their regular day, just outside in the hammock talking, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and they noticed that two guys were walking towards the shop, so they assumed that they were going to come buy. When they noticed, they men came from the front door, went in through the shop and basically just came out by the verandah, somewhat like they know the layout of the house.”
A thirty-three-year-old businessman is dead and the armed men who stormed his family home in Fresh Pond on Monday night are still on the loose. At gunpoint, Cruz Magana’s mother and sister told their attackers that they were alone inside the house. He was in this hammock sometime around nine p.m., when a commotion inside the living room caught his attention.
“Dat da when my brother-in-law mi like, mi di hear da commotion and get up from the hammock and dat da when ih look like di man dehn get jumpy and dehn seh, “A man deh ya. So dat da when dehn come eena di house through di veranda door and dehn tell ahn, “Give mi di money. And dehn mi done check like di shop, dehn mi gaan check it and ih mi got like lone lee chump change, my mother-in-law done mi put up di money.”
The surveillance camera inside the small grocery store tracked the pair’s movement as they rifled the register. The men were intent on carrying out an aggravated burglary and wouldn’t leave until they got what they wanted. Regrettably, the device would not capture any of the footage on record. In the wake of the deadly incident is grief and a hardworking family that has been torn apart.
“My brother-in-law and my mother-in-law tell ahn, “You know di money deh eena di room. Just tek di money and go. But like before that, deh mi done tek things, right, like my sister-in-law’s bracelet and thing. Dehn just literally gaan eena di room, tek di money, walk out and still shot ahn. Three to four times dehn shot ahn.”
When Cruz quit his job at a call center, it was to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and provide for his family. He was humble, diligent and was making progress at realizing that dream.
“He da mi wahn really good person, and really humble and thing and he worked really hard fi got ih lee business weh ih mi di build up. I remember he mi get tired a call center one spell and then he mi tell we, ih seh, “ ah wah build wah business and unu wah watch me get big and I wah tek care ah all ah my family.”
Before then, his mother had been running the business for well over a decade and nothing like the harrowing ordeal that she experienced overnight had ever happened here.
“Three to four times dehn shot ahn and dat da cause like he mi di beg fi ih life like, you know, just tek di money, go. Da just dat, right, but dehn still just shot ahn and tek di money and gaan. Dehn tek di phone dehn, dehn tek wahn laptop and then dehn gone out back and dehn mu wahn shot my sister-in-law too, right. I think one ah dehn done mi got ahn eena ih hand, she mi seh, but then she run, right,… she run cross ah di neighbor. My mother-in-law di go through it because da like, that da her first son and he da always di one weh deh ya with ahn, always di help ah how ih can.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
OJ Challenges Authenticity of Virtual Complainant Statements
Today, attorney Orson Elrington made his third appearance in court for a matter involving an alleged rape that was reported in January. During the session, the D.P.P. provided partial disclosure and stated verbally all the evidence they intend to rely on at the preliminary inquiry. The defense, however, is seeking to challenge the authenticity of the electronic reports given by the alleged victim. Attorney Norman Rodriguez indicated to the court today that he wants to visit the precinct where the statements were purportedly recorded, including San Ignacio, San Pedro, and Belize City. In court, Elrington indicated that the need to verify these statements stems from a suspicion that the defense will be provided with accurate statements.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney at Law
“We came today for disclosure to be served on the defens and it was served the law requires that the prosecution prompt serves on the defense what it intends to rely on at the preliminary inquiry that was done. However, instructed by my client, we requested certain evidence that we believe can assist us in deciding whether we’re going to make any application or submission against the committal to the high court or whether we’re not going to make it. We believe based on discussion with our clients and the other attorneys that there is evidence that is able to help us. However, the D.P.P.’s submission was that she complied with the law and rightly we still need that and the court has, with the consent of the D.P.P., allowed us an opportunity to go to the police stations and view certain electronic evidence. We come back on the 18th, at which time the D.P.P. will serve additional evidence and the preliminary inquiry can be held any time thereafter on the second or after the second of July, which is two weeks, minimum of two weeks after the disclosure is made.”
Man Chopped Neighbor Allegedly Over Stolen Badman
This morning, a man was brought before the court for allegedly causing harm to his neighbor using machete after the two got into a dispute. He is forty-year-old Jareth Jason Tablada, a driver and a resident of Hattieville. The incident is said to have occurred on Thursday, May twenty- third. According to reports, the machete attack is said to have stemmed from the theft of a bottle of the popular alcoholic drink Badman. Allegations are that Tablada intentionally stole the drink from neighbor Gilroy Keith Wade and inflicted grievous harm on him with a machete. Tablada, however, claims that he was acting out of self-defense. At his arraignment, Tablada, who was unrepresented, initially pleaded guilty to the charge, but explained to the Magistrate that he was acting in self-defense. Thus, his guilty plea was rejected and was told that the matter would have to go to trial so both sides could be heard. Bail in the sum of three thousand dollars, and an additional surety of the same amount, was offered to Tablada which he met.
Belize Council of Churches Offers Prayers to Fire Victims
The Belize Council of Churches a few minutes ago issued a press statement regarding the forest fires that continue to devastate certain parts of the country, particularly the Toledo and Cayo districts.
In its release, the Council says, “The Belize Council of Churches offers its prayers of solace to the victims of the fires in Cayo and Toledo. We also offer prayers of gratitude for the dedicated many who have fought, and continue to fight the fires.”
The release continues, “The Council of Churches has initially sent cases of life-giving water to Toledo with enclosed prayers for the firefighters, as they spend day and night not only in the heat of this dry weather but also the heat of the fire.”