Former female coast guard officer Keyren Tzib is out on bail tonight after being convicted of attempted murder on Wednesday by High Court Judge Candace Nanton. On Wednesday, Justice Nanton found Tzib guilty of an attempt on the life of a colleague, Kurt Hyde, as they were returning to the Belize Coast Guard Headquarters here in Belize City. The incident, as we’ve reported, took place on April sixth, 2015. Tzib spent the night in lockdown at the Queen Street Police Station before posting bail in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, plus three sureties of five thousand dollars each. The conditions of her bail include that she must sign in at the Orange Walk Police Station, as well as report to the High Court once a week. Tzib was represented in court by attorney Darrell Bradley.
Category: Trials
Anke Doehm’s Sentencing is Adjourned
Sixty-three-year-old Anke Doehm, an American national who was found guilty in the High Court last week for cruelty to a child, appeared in court today after being on remand at the Belize Central Prison. This morning, Doehm alighted from the prison bus that brought her back to Belize City. She appeared fragile and ill, visibly affected by her imprisonment. There was, however, a delay in her sentencing and she was returned to prison until April eighth when Justice Derick Sylvester is expected to deliver a sentence. As we’ve reported, Doehm stood trial following the death of thirteen-year-old Fay Lin Cannon back in 2017. The tragic incident involving the abused teenager happened in San Pedro.
4 Years Later, 3 Interdicted Cops Await Trial in High Court
Shyne Weighs in on OJ Elrington’s Rape Charge
On Friday, attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington was arraigned on a charge of rape, several weeks after two women filed reports with the Belize Police Department alleging that they were sexually assaulted by Elrington after a night of partying on the entertainment strip in Belize City. Earlier today, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow commented briefly on the matter during an appearance on Open Your Eyes. According to Barrow, he has since spoken with Elrington in the wake of the charge that has been brought against him.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I wished him the best and, you know, I hope that justice prevails. We hope that he gets justice and if he’s innocent we hope that he gets justice and if he’s not, then we hope that the victims get justice.”
Isani Cayetano
“In the first instance he stepped down as legal counsel to the UDP, but on March sixth, he was in San Pedro functioning on behalf of the party during the municipals. How does the United Democratic Party now view this development in respect of Mr. Elrington?”
Shyne Barrow
“He has a relationship with the standard bearer in Belize Rural South, San Pedro. He actually has an office out there. So he was out there working with his colleague, but he has no official role in the party. That official function of the party stopped months ago when these allegations came about. So he’s not an official of the party… We condemn rape, we condemn violence against women. That remains and we take this very seriously and we encourage all of our colleagues to be very careful so that they don’t find themselves in these positions.”
ComPol Explains Why He Had to Testify in Selgado Case
We have not had an opportunity to ask him for a comment on the ruling since the High Court handed down its verdict in the Oscar Selgado case. But today, News Five asked the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams for his perspective on the historic conviction of an attorney who was found guilty based solely on testimonial evidence when the material evidence all mysteriously disappeared. Williams himself was called to testify, having listened to audio recordings of conversations between Selgado and a civilian who he had hired to kill a woman. The audio recordings went missing, and Williams was called to testify in that regard.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“As police officers, we owe a duty to the state to ensure that we execute our duties to the best of our ability. And the matter involving Mr Selgado was one that there were certain facts within my knowledge. Even though I was not within the pool of witnesses to be called, but the minute the main witness decided to not show because he felt fearful, then the DPP had to invoke the witness for fear provision. Then my presence becomes necessary and based on that, I had to do a statement. I had listened to the tapes that went missing. I knew what some of the contents were and I just reduced those to a statement. And then I was called to the court to testify. And I told the court the truth, what I knew of what transpired and what were the facts within my knowledge as it relates to the tapes that went missing.”
Coast Guard Found Guilty of Attempted Murder
Today, thirty-three-year-old Keyren Tzib, a former member of the Belize Coast Guard, was found Guilty of the attempted murder of former member of the coast guard Kurt Hyde, who was shot in the back of the head with an M16 rifle back in April 2015. The incident occurred while Hyde was operating a coast guard vessel on a journey from San Pedro to their Belize City headquarters. The bullet exited Hyde’s head and because of the injury, he has reportedly lost feeling in one side of his face. Tzib claims that the shooting was an accident, however, Justice Candace Nanton, who was overseeing the case, did not believe her statement and found Tzib guilty of attempted murder. While the crown objected heavily to bail being extended to Tzib, her attorney, Darrell Bradley, asked the court to take into consideration Tzib’s PTSD diagnosis, claiming that she is in no condition to be remanded to prison until her sentencing. As a result, Tzib was Justice Nanton granted Tzib bail in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars and three additional sureties of five thousand dollars each. The condition of the bail requires Tzib to undergo psychiatric evaluation, report to the Orange Walk Police station three times a week, and report to the High Court once a week until her sentencing on April twenty-sixth, 2024. She is also not to interfere with Hyde nor his family members.
Malique Gentle is Acquitted of Murder
Earlier today, an accused murderer walked out of the High Court a free man after Justice Candance Nanton rejected the Crown’s main witness statement which it attempted to enter into evidence. That main witness on whom they were relying on is now deceased. Malique Gentle has been acquitted of the stabbing death of twenty-seven-year-old Adrian Hyde which occurred at the corners of Mopan and Vernon streets back in November 2021. The trial which began on February twenty-sixth, concluded on March first with the Justice Nanton dismissing the charge brought against Gentle.
Calaney Flowers to be Retried for Murder, Twelve Years Later
A new trial date has been set for Calaney Flowers, the woman accused of killing the father of her child back in August 2012 when she knocked him down on Freetown Road. At the time, she was charged for the murder of twenty-nine-year-old Lyndon Morrison and the attempted murder of his girlfriend Sochyl Sosa. After years on pretrial detention at the Belize Central Prison, Flowers was acquitted of the charges. She is back in court because the Director of Public Prosecutions has won an appeal and a retrial has been ordered. Flowers will once again stand trial before High Court Justice Derick Sylvester as of June fourteenth, 2024.
Oscar Selgado Guilty of Abetment to Commit Murder
Defense attorney Oscar Selgado has been found guilty of abetment to commit murder in an unprecedented ruling handed down by High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Justice Pilgrim determined that Selgado had attempted to hire a gang member to carry out the murder of Marilyn Barnes, who had filed a complaint against him for unethical behavior. The judge found that the prosecution’s main witness, Giovanni Ramirez, was truthful and reliable. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo was in court and has the following story.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
From defense attorney to convict… Tonight, defense attorney Oscar Selgado is sitting in a jail cell at the Belize Central Prison. This is after High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim handed down a historic verdict. Selgado was found guilty of abetment to commit murder.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions
“Let’s just say justice was done. I don’t know of any other case. I’ve been here 23 and a half years.”
Selgado is facing up to seven years behind bars, based on precedence. He attempted to hire Belize City gang member Giovanni Ramirez to murder Marilyn Barnes, who had made a complaint to the General Legal Counsel against Selgado for unethical behavior. Ramirez was the prosecution’s main witness, and in his ruling, Justice Pilgrim determined that Ramirez’s evidence was truthful and reliable.
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“He accepted the statement of Giovanni Ramirez. He found him to be truthful in his statement and that what was stated in that statement suffice to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.”
From our records, this is the first time that a practicing attorney has been convicted of such a crime. In November 2023, after chastising the media, Selgado said he would comment when the trial concluded.
Oscar Selgado, Guilty of Abetment to Commit Murder (File: November 3rd 2023)
“What is it that the media wants to ask me? To comment upon a case that is before a judge? I am not afraid of the media. I have nothing to hide. What I want you people to understand is to respect my privacy and I don’t want to see you back at this court until the case is finish. When the case is finished, I will give you an interview, and I will tell you what I think.”
Selgado appeared in court today in casual clothing. During the judgment, he stared expressionlessly away from Justice Pilgrim who pronounced him guilty. He had no words for News Five while being escorted to a waiting prison van at the end of the session.
Hipolito Novelo
“Mister Selgado, anything to say, sir?”
Oscar Selgado
“(No Answer)”
“You said you would comment at the end of the trial.”
Oscar Selgado
“(No answer)”
Hipolito Novelo
“How do you feel about the verdict today that you’ve been found guilty of abetment to commit murder?”
Oscar Selgado
“(No answer)”
Hipolito Novelo
“Any words for your family?
Oscar Selgado
“(No Answer)”
Hipolito Novelo
“Will you appeal, sir?
Oscar Selgado
“(No Answer)”
It would not be unusual for Selgado to appeal the verdict; however, DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal says it will be difficult.
Hipolito Novelo
“Is there any indication from Mr. Sargaro’s attorney that they would appeal this matter?
Cheryl Lynn Vidal
“I don’t think they’ll be giving me that indication, but I’m certain that he will. I’m also certain that he’ll find it very difficult from what I heard to succeed on an appeal.”
Attorney Richard Dickie Bradley, who sat in the courtroom, described today’s events as quote, ‘a sad day’.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney
“It is a sad day.”
Reporter
“What happens now? Obviously, he won’t be able to represent the accused people in the Bladden 12.”
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
“That is true. We have to make arrangements for them to be properly represented.”
Reporter
“What is the penalty or sentence that he faces?
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
“Well, the maximum under the law is that he can get life imprisonment.”
Selgado was represented by attorney Adolph Lucas Senior. He is to appear in court on April 29th for sentencing. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
OJ Elrington is Charged for Rape
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, 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.”