Category: Crime

A seventy-four-year-old man, Christopher Augustus Lamb, is facing charges of aggravated assault and wounding after allegedly attacking another man with a machete. In court, Lamb told the Senior Magistrate that while he pleaded guilty to the charges, he insisted, quote, I didn’t do it, end quote. Lamb appeared unrepresented in court, where he was read two counts: one for aggravated assault and one for wounding. The allegations state that on Sunday, March sixteenth, 2025, on Gulen Street in Belize City, Lamb assaulted and wounded Albert Ferguson with a machete. Before entering his plea, Lamb asked to explain his side of the story. He claimed that he hit Ferguson with a fluorescent bulb after an argument with Ferguson’s wife, who had called him some ugly names. According to Lamb, Ferguson then came at him with a knife and an iron. Lamb said the police have these two objects as evidence. Lamb further explained that Ferguson came to his gate, shook it, and threatened to kill him. In fear for his life, Lamb said he acted in self-defense by hitting Ferguson with the bulb. After hearing his explanation, the Senior Magistrate entered an equivocal plea on Lamb’s behalf. Lamb was granted bail of $1,500, which he met, and his case was adjourned to May 2025.

It’s been over a month since the tragic discovery of the bodies of three American tourists in their hotel suite in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The initial test of the room found no trace of carbon monoxide, but this conflicts with a report from Massachusetts last week. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced that Belizean authorities have decided a second round of tests is necessary. This decision comes after another complaint surfaced about a previous guest experiencing carbon monoxide issues in the same suite. Williams emphasized that the case remains a death investigation pending the autopsy report. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We had a meeting whereby we had a representative from the police. We have, we had from the fire department, the environment, and even from the Minister of Health. And it was agreed that a second round of testing be done at the hotel. This was after we had received reports from some previous guests at the hotel who had indicated that while they were there, they had done some tests with their own carbon monoxide test and they had detected carbon monoxide. So it was agreed to go back in and do a second round of testing. And that was done. I am not sure yet what the result of that test is. We have not received a report from the fire department or the Department of Enrollment on the result of that test. Um, so we are waiting for that. I guess again, that was the reason why the hotel owner had closed the hotel to allow the investigators from police, fire, and enrollment to go in and conduct further testing if it is found that there was carbon monoxide in this room, can the hotel be. Criminally liable? No, that would be far within the civil domain. Um, I am hopeful that the, the result of the toxicology tests will be received within the next week or two, and that is going to give us some good guidance in terms of what may have led to the death of these three, three women. So I, I still don’t want to, to speculate at this time and await the result of the toxicology report.”

The situation sparked international outrage, especially from the families of the deceased. Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler mentioned that his office is fully informed about the incident. He noted that the hotel’s decision to temporarily close was voluntary. Depending on the results, the hotel might reopen for business soon.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“It was a voluntary shutdown. We found some issues with the property and so we had a discussion with them and they decided to shut down to take remedial actions to deal with the issues that we had found. But in terms of the tests and the toxicology tests, we’re still waiting on that to determine the true cause of death.”

Paul Lopez

“Nothing about carbon monoxide has passed your desk as yet officially?”

Anthony Mahler

“Well, we’ve had a discussion about that. That is a possibility. We’re not ruling anything out, but I can assure you, the families believe that we will do the right thing in terms of putting the information forward as we get the information.”

Paul Lopez

“Are there plans to reopen the hotel when the investigation is completed?”

Anthony Mahler

“Well, as long as it’s approved by the necessary agencies to be opened.”

Gilroy Usher Junior, forty-four, who was recently called to the bar in Belize in late 2024, is facing serious allegations. He’s accused of trying to run over his sister, Monica Usher, thirty-seven, with a Ford F150 pickup truck. Today, he appeared in court to answer to a single charge of aggravated assault. Usher Junior, the son of Port Loyola Area Representative Gilroy Usher Senior, stood unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate, where he pleaded not guilty. With no objections to bail, the magistrate set it at two thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount, with strict conditions. He must not interfere with his sister, any family members, or prosecution witnesses, and must stay at least twenty-five feet away from her. His next court date is scheduled for May fifth, 2025. Court records revealed that Usher Junior owed fifty dollars for a 2017 traffic conviction for using an unlicensed vehicle, which he had to pay before posting bail. Outside the courtroom, Usher Junior described the situation as ‘an ongoing family issue’ and denied his sister’s allegations, calling them total embellishment. He admitted there was an incident but insisted it was nothing like what she claimed. The family feud between Usher and his siblings has been simmering for some time.