Sandhill Family Sentenced for “Grievous Harm”

This evening, Ormencia Pou-Swift, her mother Irene Budd, and her brother Aaron Fuentes were shuttled to the Belize Central Prison. All three were found guilty of grievous harm by a jury in April. Pou-Swift and Budd each received an additional two-year prison term from the date of conviction. Fuentes, who had already served nearly two years on remand, was released due to time served after a two-year reduction for mitigating factors. The court considered the serious injuries inflicted on the victim, Gilbert Blair, who lost vision in one eye and sustained severe injuries from a machete attack. The assault, which occurred on September fourth, 2011, was described as brutal and premeditated, with the attackers identified by Blair.