Crime & Violence
Over 900 illegal firearms destroyed by law enforcement officers
A record number of firearms were destroyed on Friday, January 19th, at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan City. The 900-plus illegal weapons were seized from across the country throughout the past years. The Firearm Destruction Initiative is a collaborative project between Belize's law enforcement agents, the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), the Mine Advisory Group (MAG), and the British High Commission.
Crime & Violence
Islander David Gonzalez sentenced to life in prison for wife’s murder
San Pedro resident David Gonzalez remains at the Kolbe Foundation-Belize Central Prison, where he is starting a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Marisela Gonzalez. Gonzalez was convicted of the crime in November 2023 and will be eligible for parole after serving 35 years in prison.
Crime & Violence
Police looking for culprits for daylight robbery in downtown San Pedro
The San Pedro Police continue to investigate the broad daylight robbery on Pescador Drive on Tuesday, January 16th. Two employees of Caribeña Enterprise and Coral Cable Vision were on their way to deposit at the bank when they were intercepted and robbed by two men on a motorcycle. No one has been detained, but the motorcycle they escaped on was found.
Crime & Violence
Tracey Betancourt found not guilty of Lamont Lipka’s murder
Former island resident Tracey Betancourt, 26, was found not guilty, in her absence, of Lamont Lipka’s 2018 murder during a hearing at the High Court in Belize City on Thursday, December 21st. Betancourt, who remains at large, had been jointly charged with Leon Walford, 38, for the murder of Lipka, an American national businessman in San Pedro Town. In July 2022, her verdict for murder was to be handed down; Betancourt was out on bail, absconded from the court hearing, and since then has been on the run. While she was not found guilty, the High Court noted that Betancourt could still face the escape charge because she voluntarily decided to abscond.
Crime & Violence
Police still looking for one suspect following Caye Caulker stabbing
Роlісе continue to look for one male person following а stabbing incident оn thе іѕlаnd оf Сауе Саulkеr оn Ѕundау, December 10th. Police identified the victim as Evan Haynes, 28, a construction worker, who was transported to Belize City’s Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he remains in a stable condition.
Crime & Violence
Delson and Tionne Paguada brothers sentenced for Paul Jex murder
On Wednesday, December 20th, Delson and Tionne Paguada were convicted at the High Court in Belize City for the 2018 murder of Jimell Paul Jex in San Pedro Town. Delson was sentenced to 24 years, and his younger brother Tionne to 21 years.
Crime & Violence
Four arraigned in San Pedro for Irvin Martinez’ murder
On Monday, December 18th, David Gill Lambey, 18, was arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court for the Murder of islander Irvin Enderson Martinez. Martinez, a 28-year-old bartender, was fatally stabbed on Friday, December 15th, after an altercation with Lambey and three other individuals. The other three persons, 22-year-old Zephania Mariano, Zechariah Mariano, and 19-year-old Keyron Lambey, were also arraigned for the charge of Aggravated Assault. They were all remanded to the Kolbe Foundation- Belize Central Prison until their next court date on February 28, 2024.
Crime & Violence
Police Minister meets with murder victim’s family from San Pedro’s triple murder
The Honourable Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and in charge of the Belize Police Department, met with the family of the murder victims, Delmar Rodriguez, his baby daughter Amarie, and Carlos Chi. Musa said that although he cannot reveal what they discussed, his ministry provides all the support they can to affected families.
