Trials - Channel 5 Belize

Two Men to Stand Trial for the Murder of “Bobo Youth” Elwin Lewis

Two men accused of the March 2024 murder of Elwin Lewis, also known as “Bobo Youth,” are back behind bars after being ordered to stand trial. Travis Herbert and Robert Taylor appeared in court this morning, where a Senior Magistrate committed them to stand trial at the June session of the High Court. The prosecutor presented ten statements and several exhibits, including autopsy details and DVDs, which will be used in the trial. The men were given an alibi warning and asked to provide witness names. Herbert named three women, including his sister, as alibi witnesses. Robert Emmanuel Arnold, twenty-one, was also charged with Lewis’s murder, following Herbert’s arraignment in May 2024. Both men were remanded to Belize Central Prison, unable to be granted bail due to the nature of the offense. Arnold inquired about the bail process, and the Senior Magistrate explained that he would need to seek bail through the High Court with an attorney’s assistance. The incident occurred on March twenty-second, 2024, when police responded to a shooting on Antelope Street Extension. They found a grey Lifan motorcycle and expended shells at the scene. Initial investigations revealed that Lewis was shot by two men on another motorcycle. He was taken to K.H.M.H. but later died from his injuries. Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified Herbert as one of the shooters. The investigation continues as the case moves to trial.

Enriquez Demands Justice Hondora’s Removal

Enriquez has submitted an affidavit to Chief Justice Louise Blenman from witnesses who heard the alleged remarks. He’s demanding an investigation and wants Justice Hondora off his case. Although the claim was dismissed, the cost is still being appealed.

Jeremy Enriquez, Claimant

“The focus was what was heard during that break, what was recorded, and we want to ensure that it does not happen again. It distorts the integrity of the justice system and it may call into question the fairness of a judge who is making those statements during that lunch break. The judge will have to answer as to how he had made those kinds of decisions and statements. It clearly made us question the fairness and integrity of the system in which those kinds of decisions are made. This is a serious constitutional matter we brought up. Against all odds, we were fighting to preserve the democracy of Belize and for the government to abide by the constitution, that they had sworn to do and repeatedly said they would do. They did not. That did not happen. So when we took the matter to court, it is because we trusted the court to look at it objectively, to look at the chronological order and to make a reasonable judgement after hearing the entire case.”

Paul Lopez

“What if any response have you received from the Chief Justice in her position as chair?”

Jeremy Enriquez

“No response yet to acknowledge the receipt of our complaint. But those were hand delivered to the office of the Judicial and Legals Service Commission and also to the office of the Chief Justice and also sent by email to the Chief Justice herself.”

Jeremy Enriquez Files Complaint Against Justice Hondora

Jeremy Enriquez is back in the spotlight, and tonight he’s taking aim at the High Court Judge who presided over his constitutional claim to halt the March twelfth general election. Enriquez accuses Justice Towanda Hondora of misconduct and judicial misbehavior during the proceedings. He has written to the Chairperson of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, demanding an investigation into Justice Hondora. Enriquez claims that during a lunch break, Justice Hondora’s microphone was left on, and he was overheard saying he had already decided to dismiss the case. Whether Chief Justice Blenman will address the matter remains to be seen. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Jeremy Enriquez and his attorney, Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, failed to secure an injunction from the High Court to halt the March 12th general election until a redistricting exercise was completed. Consequently, the election proceeded, and its results have been widely publicized. Seven weeks later, Enriquez is back in the news, filing a complaint with Chief Justice Louise Blenman against Justice Tawanda Hondora, who presided over the case.

Enriquez has written to Chief Justice Blenman, in her capacity as Chair of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, alleging judicial misbehavior, misconduct, and corruption. He claims that during the hearing, Justice Hondora displayed hostility and unprofessional behavior towards him and his attorney. Enriquez requested a copy of the recording from the hybrid hearing and detailed an exchange between Ramlogan and Justice Hondora. Ramlogan, appearing virtually, informed Justice Hondora that his microphone was left on during the break, and he was overheard saying he had already decided to dismiss the application. Ramlogan stated that while he stepped away to grab breakfast, his law partner and associates in Trinidad heard the remarks. Justice Hondora flatly denied the allegation, stating, “whatever information you have been told is patently incorrect.” Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, representing the Attorney General, called the allegations disgraceful, outrageous, and a direct accusation of judicial misconduct. Courtenay later shared his thoughts with News Five.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney-At-Law (File: Feb, 18^th 2025)

“I believe, in my many years of practice, I have never seen a practitioner behave so disrespectfully, disgracefully and so inconsistent with the traditions of the bar. It was a most regrettable and I cannot believe that a Senior Counsel believes that he can come from Trinidad & Tobago and behave that way in our courts. And so, I am going to see what happens as a result of the orders that the judge has made against him.”

Enriquez has provided Chief Justice Blenman with an unofficial lunch break audio recording in which a male person, purported to be Justice Hondora, is heard having a conversation with another individual, about the case. Enriquez has requested that the matter be investigated urgently to determine the appropriate disciplinary action that must be taken. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Swift Brothers Out on Bail After Alleged Machete and Knife Attack in St. Ann’s Village

Tonight, three brothers from Saint Ann’s Village are out on bail following an alleged machete and knife attack at their family yard. The details of the incident remain unclear, but the brothers—Richard Swift thirty-two, Neil Swift twenty-six, and Deitrick Swift, forty—faced separate charges in court today. Richard Swift was first to be arraigned, charged with obstructing a police officer during his brother Deitrick’s arrest for traffic offenses. Richard pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of one thousand dollars. His next court date is June twelfth, 2025. Neil Swift faced a charge of aggravated assault with a knife against Delwin Jones, alleged to have occurred on April twenty-first, 2025. Neil also pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of two thousand dollars. He is due back in court on June twentieth, 2025. Deitrick Swift was charged with aggravated assault with a machete and three traffic offenses: driving an unlicensed motor vehicle, driving without insurance, and driving without a valid license. Deitrick pleaded guilty to the traffic offenses, resulting in fines totaling two hundred and fifteen dollars and a one-year driving disqualification. He pleaded not guilty to the assault charge, with his next court date set for June thirtieth, 2025. Deitrick explained that the confrontation stemmed from men disrespecting his wife near his property, affecting his business and livelihood. Despite his plea, Magistrate Black emphasized the seriousness of driving illegally and the potential harm it could cause. The Swift brothers’ legal battles continue as they await their respective court dates.

Murder Trial Stalled: Crown Struggles to Locate Key Witness in High Court Case

Thompson, a resident of Mahogany Heights who was sent to buy $2.00 tacos for his mother. This morning, in the absence of the main witness, the crown had 5 to 6 agreed statements read into the case in court. Unable to produce the witness, despite a subpoena for his detention and police efforts to locate him, the crown sought an adjournment until tomorrow. The trial is being heard before Justice Candace Nanton in the High Court. Hudge is represented by Attorney Arthur Saldivar, while Garcia, who was only 16 at the time of the murder, is represented by Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson. The crown hopes to locate the crucial witness by tomorrow to prove the murder charges against the two accused men. The trial continues tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the High Court. Hudge and Garcia were further remanded.

Double Murder Charges Dropped: Kenner Gomez Walks Free

Kenner Gomez, the man once charged with the double murder of Lawrence and Medardo Canelo, is now a free man after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) entered a nolle prosequi in the case. Gomez had been accused of opening fire at Flash Bar and Cool Spot in Punta Gorda in August 2021, fatally wounding the uncle and nephew duo as they were reportedly tallying the day’s sales. Aura Parham, who was also present, sustained injuries during the attack. Police had arrested and charged the then twenty-seven-year-old Gomez with two counts of murder and grievous harm, believing the shooting stemmed from a personal rivalry. However, during a recent court appearance, the prosecution informed the court that it would no longer be proceeding with the case, effectively withdrawing all charges against Gomez. The nolle prosequi, a legal declaration that halts prosecution, means Gomez cannot be tried again. Gomez was represented by attorney Leslie Hamilton.

Elmer Nah’s Trinidadian Attorney Withdraws from Murder Case

Today, part two of the Case Management Conference for Elmer Nah, who is accused of a triple murder in Belmopan, took place. A surprising twist occurred when one of Nah’s attorneys withdrew from the case, leaving him with only one lawyer for his trial. Around 11:30 a.m., the matter was called up before Justice Nigel Pilgrim in the High Court. Only attorney Lynden Jones appeared in person; Trinidadian attorney Peter Taylor and his team did not show up, either in person or virtually. Justice Pilgrim raised the issue of Taylor’s withdrawal, and Jones confirmed he was aware of it, as the documents had been lodged with the High Court. Jones is now the sole attorney representing Nah. In his withdrawal letter, Taylor stated, quote, Mr. Nah expressed dissatisfaction with my representation at the CMC on April 1, 2025, and on that basis, I feel obligated to withdraw my service, end quote. Following this revelation, Jones made several applications to the court. His first application was to set aside time for voir dire in the last week of May. He argued that three separate voir dires are needed: one to determine if Vivian Ramnarace’s statement can be used as evidence, another for the video testimony of Ramnarace regarding the photo array, and a third for the video of the shooting, since the original video from the SD card has vanished. Jones’ second application requested a visit to the locations related to the case: the house where the shootings occurred, Nah’s house, and the alleged pig farm where Nah claimed to be on the night of the murders. Justice Pilgrim agreed and instructed both sides to create a list of all areas to be visited. Jones’ third application was to subpoena ASP Dervin Sambula, now a Magistrate, and ACP Alford Grinage to testify for the defense. His fourth application asked for the video of the shooting to be enhanced by the Government of Belize. Special Prosecutor Terrence Williams from Jamaica said he would seek guidance on this matter. Jones’ fifth and final application requested a transcript of the photo array video, as the defense believes there are discrepancies between the crown’s statement and the video. Justice Pilgrim agreed that the transcript would assist the court, and Williams assured he would seek further assistance. Elmer Nah was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 16, 2025, when the final part of the Case Management Conference will occur. The first voir dire is scheduled for May 26-29, 2025, and the trial is tentatively set to begin on June 6, 2025.

Stanley Flowers is Arraigned for Attempted Murder of Policeman

A police corporal was shot and injured outside Fire Nightclub, while three other officers were held at gunpoint and two police vehicles, worth over twenty thousand dollars, were damaged. Following the incident, police charged Stanley Flowers, a thirty-six-year-old from Crooked Tree, with eight criminal counts. This morning at 9:30, Flowers appeared in Court #3 before a Senior Magistrate. He was initially charged with keeping a firearm without a license. The proceedings were briefly paused so Flowers could consult with his attorney, Ian Gray. After being informed of his rights, Flowers pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm. He was denied bail under Section Sixteen of the Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act and was remanded to Belize Central Prison until June second, 2025. Shortly after this arraignment, Flowers was hit with additional charges. By 10:30, he was back in Court #3 facing seven more charges. These included attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm against Corporal Manuel Chub. He also faced three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm against police constables Valentine Young, Sebastian Sho, and Joel Chi. Additionally, Flowers was charged with damaging two police vehicles: a white 2023 Isuzu D-Max pickup valued at twenty thousand dollars and a white JAC-T6 pickup truck, both belonging to the Government of Belize. The incident took place outside Fire Nightclub on the Philip Goldson Highway. Flowers, armed with a firearm and a knife, allegedly opened fire on Corporal Manuel Chub. According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, officers were responding to reports of an armed individual when they approached Flowers. He reportedly took out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the vehicle. Chub was hit four times but was later treated and released from the hospital. Flowers fled on a motorcycle, leading police on a high-speed chase during which he fired at officers and damaged their vehicle. He was eventually apprehended when officers knocked him off his bike.

2 of 6 Cocaine Fishermen Granted High Court Bail

Two of the six fishermen from the north were granted bail this morning by Justice Nigel Pilgrim in the High Court. Lerman Norman Leslie, thirty-one, from Chunox Village, and Ronyer Alexander Cruz, twenty-four, from Sarteneja Village, were each granted bail of nine thousand dollars, with two sureties of four thousand, five hundred dollars each. Prosecutor Dercene Staine did not object to their bail. As part of their bail conditions, they must report to the Corozal Police Station every Monday and Friday starting March thirty-first, 2025, until the case is resolved. They must attend all court hearings, avoid contacting prosecution witnesses, stay within the jurisdiction unless permitted by a High Court judge, and not get arrested or charged with any new offenses while out on bail, or their bail could be revoked. The fishermen, along with Pastor Mark Anthony Humes and four others—Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, and Marvin Teul—were initially charged with possession of one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven grams of cocaine. At their arraignment on March nineteenth, 2025, they were all denied bail. However, on March twenty-first, 2025, the charge against Pastor Humes was dropped, leaving only the six fishermen facing charges. The bail application for the remaining four fishermen will be heard on March thirty-first, 2025, in the High Court. The arrests stemmed from a bust on March eighteenth, 2025, in Orange Walk Town. Police intercepted a gold Dodge Caravan driven by Pastor Humes, who was reportedly hired to transport the fishermen from Belize City to Orange Walk. The six fishermen are due back in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on May twenty-second, 2025.

Shania Welch Out on Bail; Will Stand Trial for Child Pornography

After spending over five months on remand for child pornography and sexual assault of a ten-year-old, Shania Shahera Welch, a twenty-one-year-old student from Gales Point Manatee, is finally out on bail. Her case wrapped up in a preliminary inquiry last Monday, March seventeenth, at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions herself handled the inquiry, which ended with Welch being committed to stand trial at the High Court’s April session. According to the ten-year-old victim’s report, Welch allegedly forced her to masturbate with a deodorant bottle and recorded the act. The Senior Magistrate ordered Welch to stand trial for making child pornography and sexual assault. During the inquiry, DPP Cheryl Lynn-Vidal presented several statements against Welch that the prosecution plans to use. Welch had been denied bail since her arraignment in early October 2024, spending over five months behind bars. She was granted bail today for eight thousand dollars, with conditions: she must not interfere with the victim, stay two hundred yards away from her, and report to the police station weekly. The allegations date back to December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2022, when Welch reportedly made a video of the child engaging in explicit sexual activity. The police prosecutor objected to bail, fearing Welch might interfere with the victim. Despite this, Welch was granted bail after having no objections. The case began when members of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit responded to reports of an explicit video involving a minor circulating in southern Belize. The victim identified Welch as the woman in the video during an interview conducted with her mother and a social worker.