Crime - Channel 5 Belize

Man Shot Monday Night in Ladyville

Meanwhile, police investigations into a shooting on Monday night in Ladyville Village remain ongoing. ACP Hilberto Romero told us today that they do not have any suspects for the shooting of Frank Young. The incident happened on a busy thoroughfare near a gas station.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Monday, the 13th of May, 2024, around 11:45 p.m., Ladyville police responded to a shooting incident in the vicinity of the 24/7 Gas Station. Upon their arrival, they found one Frank Young, 26 years, with a gunshot injury. He was taken to the KHMH for treatment. He reported he was walking on the highway in that area when he heard gunshots and then realized that he had been shot. He has since been treated at the KHMH and has been released.”

Kenrick Longsworth Stands Trial for Murder of 3-year-old Boy

On January tenth, 2020, a three-year-old boy died inside a house on Lovely Lane, here in Belize City. He was reportedly beaten to death and sexually assaulted by his stepfather. The child’s siblings, ages two and four, were also badly beaten and left inside the building. News of the horrific incident led to public outrage and a manhunt ensued for the capture of Kenrick Longsworth, the alleged perpetrator. Earlier today, the thirty-one-year-old suspect appeared before the High Court where is standing trial for the murder of Mark Francisco Teul. This evening, the child’s mother, Zema Requena, was called to the witness stand by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Under oath, she told the court that on the day in question, she left home and went with a neighbor. Upon returning home, she saw Longsworth sitting on a bucket and he appeared visibly upset. When she inquired what was wrong, he reportedly told her that the next time she leaves, she should take along her children. Requena proceeded towards the house and made the grisly discovery inside the bedroom. Under cross examination Zema Requena became very emotional when defense attorney Andrew Bennett suggested that she was the one who physically abused the children because Longsworth had broken up with her earlier that day. Requena subsequently stormed out of the courtroom before Justice Sylvester called her back. She was cautioned that her behavior was disrespectful to the court. The murder trial by judge without jury will continue on Thursday.

Uncle is Sentenced to 19 Years for Sexual Assault of Minor Niece

A sixty-four-year-old uncle who was convicted of sexual assault and incest against his thirteen-year-old niece will serve a nineteen-year sentence at the Belize Central Prison. During his sentencing appearance this morning, the uncle had nothing to say and in mitigation plea, he did not call on a character witness to speak on his behalf. On March eighth, 2024, the elderly man was found guilty of all four counts following a full trial before Justice Candace Nanton in the High Court. The crimes for which he was convicted were committed in 2019 and 2020.

Police Inspector Charged with Wounding Detainee

An inspector of police finds himself on the opposite side of the law tonight as he faces a charge of Wounding. Christopher Martinez is accused of wounding Aaron Flowers while he was detained on June nineteenth of last year. Today Martinez asked the court for a sentence indication on grounds that he is contemplating pleading guilty. He will get that indication on May twenty-third, when he can decide if he still wants to plead guilty or whether he wants to take his chances at trial. Martinez remains on active duty with the Special Patrol Unit, pending the outcome of his criminal case. The allegation against him is that in June of 2023, Martinez wounded a businessman whom he beat up while he was detained inside a holding cell. It is alleged that Martinez took the padlock from the cell area and inflicted injuries to Flowers’ head. Martinez appeared in court today in the presence of his attorney, Andrew Bennett, while the Crown was represented by the D.P.P., Cheryl-Lynn Vidal. The request for a sentence indication today was a turn of events because Martinez had maintained his innocence and at his arraignment almost a year ago. The victim, Aaron Flowers, was present to testify against Martinez, but again the matter was adjourned for another in a series of adjournments over the year. Issues discussed before the adjournment included what sentencing is the Crown seeking for the crime should Martinez plead guilty; what were the injuries sustained by the victim and what was used to inflict the injury; and the fact that the defendant is a police officer. The D.P.P. indicated that the Prosecution is expecting a just sentence, which may not necessarily mean a custodial sentence. A video footage shows that Martinez removed a pad lock from the cell block area and that was he used to assault Flowers with.

General Legal Council Sanctions Attorney Bryan Neal

Attorney Bryan Neal has been sanctioned by the General Legal Council to pay a fine of three thousand, five hundred dollars after it was found that he breached several rules of the legal profession. Neal appeared before the G.L.C. following a complaint by a former client accusing him of professional misconduct. He was later found guilty. On March, twenty-ninth, 2023, Mr. Jinyue Young retained the services of Bryan Neal to recover possession of his property in Burrell Boom and paid Neal five thousand dollars. The services were never rendered, neither did Neal communicate to Young that he was unable to act on his behalf, despite collecting the monies. The fine must be paid within thirty days to the Registrar of the High Court.

Over 3.5 Tons of Drugs Found Near Chetumal

On Monday, over three and a half tons of drugs were seized in the southern area of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The reports of the discovery came shortly after Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa informed the media that, according to Mexican government officials, cartel activity was dying down. The past several weeks has seen unrest from the Mexican and Belizean public as a surge of violent crimes were reported in connection with the cartels. Belizean authorities have assured the public that the police force is at work to ensure that these operatives do not cross over into Belizean territory and, according to Musa, the Mexican officials are allaying concerns regarding the prominence of cartel operatives. However, the large quantity of drugs was seized by the Mexican navy after they spotted two boats offshore that were attempting to enter Mexican territory. They carried out an investigation which led to the discovery. Mexican authorities are investigating further.

Shooting in Ladyville

Twenty-six-year-old Frank Young was shot last night in Ladyville Village. Investigators say that Young was shot while walking on the Philip Goldson Highway. He was injured in the right arm and leg. According to Young, he heard gunshots and later realised he was shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Celebrity is Scammed Out of Thousands in Food and Drinks

Twenty-five-year-old Jemine Thurton is making headlines tonight for scamming a popular Belize City restaurant and bar out of thousands of dollars in food and drinks. Between March twenty-fourth and May first, she ordered generously from Celebrity’s menu, requesting shots of tequila, nachos, Heineken beer, shrimp alfredo and an extensive list of other food and drinks amounting to three thousand, two hundred and twenty-eight dollars. Thurton never paid for any of it and has been charged with two counts of obtaining property by deception. It is alleged that Thurton, a regular customer of Celebrity’s, scammed the establishment by making fraudulent online payments. Taylor Fuller, an administrator at the restaurant, grew suspicious when he observed two payments dated May fifteenth and seventeenth, respectively. According to Fuller, the online banking system does not make mistakes with time and dates as it is an automated process. When he visited Belize Bank to make a query, Fuller was informed that the transactions were illegitimate. He then did a review of all the previous payment transactions made by Thurton and discovered that none of the payments were legitimate. On Sunday, a police report was filed by Fuller and Thurton was arrested and charged. She appeared in court earlier today where she was charged with two counts of obtaining property by deception. She pleaded not guilty to both charges and was offered bail in the sum of five thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount.

Government Cracking Down on Cyber Scams

Due to its accessibility and the option of anonymity, the internet has become the primary place to conduct a get-rich-quick scheme. Over the past few years, many Belizeans have fallen victim to online scams and authorities have grappled with how to counteract them. Today, Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa was asked what efforts are being made to limit the number of online scammers in Belize. Here’s his response.

Kareem Musa, Minster of Home Affairs

“Yes, cyber security, as over the last five years to a decade, has been on the front burner for our ministry and across the region. As you know, Jamaica was facing an incredible issue with scammers in Jamaica. And now we have seen it come to our shores on a much smaller scale, but at the same time, extremely important. And so we have been monitoring this along with the chamber of commerce. They have brought it to our attention from last year. A number of call centers have raised the issue. And so moving forward it is our intention to meet with them to see what types of legislation we can put in place for them. I’m happy that in some situations, we are able to charge individuals for the fraud that they have committed, but moving forward, tightening the legislation around that is extremely important.”

Reporter

“Sir, would the presence of the regional police commissioners be able to bolster your efforts along those lines?”

Kareem Musa

“Absolutely. Like I said, that is a cross region issue. That’s one of the top issues, cyber security and so it is expected that will be addressed.”

Complainant in Selgado Case Charged with Being Gang Member

He was the man that filed a statement and provided material evidence to the police that ended with the conviction of attorney Oscar Selgado who is awaiting sentencing for abetment to commit murder. Today, it is that man, thirty-year-old Giovanni Ramirez, who was arraigned for being a member of a gang. Martinez, a resident of Seine Bight Village, Stann Creek District, is accused of being a member of the Back-Ah-Land Crips. Ramirez pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court today. He asked permission to speak and told the sitting magistrate that his arrest stemmed from a vehicle that he bought from a policeman. According to Ramirez, they took his vehicle, which he claimed he had for two years and then four days later, police came and arrested him and then he was charged with being a member of a gang. Ramirez asked what his vehicle had to do with his arrest, but the Magistrate told him she cannot answer or address his question as only the charge for being a member of a gang is before her. Ramirez was denied bail and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until July twenty-fourth. It was a statement made by Ramirez that led the Crown to seal the conviction of Selgado for abetment to murder Marilyn Burns. Ramirez had told police that Selgado paid him to carry out a hit on Burns. Ramirez never showed up in court to testify against Selgado, but his statement was admitted into evidence in the trial against Selgado. It was alleged that Ramirez had recorded meetings he had with Selgado.