By Breaking Belize News Staff: A San Pedro man who allegedly used three different names while marrying two women has avoided a maximum prison sentence of 7 years after pleading guilty to bigamy in the High Court and being left to pay his first wife $1,000 in addition to a court fine because hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Edermillo Javier Azebedo, also known as Javier Garcia and Javier Edelmiro, was fined $1,000 by the court and ordered to pay an additional $1,000 in compensation to his first wife after entering into a plea agreement with the Crown for the serious offense of bigamy, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.
Azebedo appeared before Justice Candace Nanton on Friday afternoon where his guilty plea was accepted. He was represented by attorney Orson Elrington.
Before accepting the plea, Justice Nanton questioned Azebedo to ensure he was entering the plea willingly. During the exchange, Azebedo reportedly told the court, “Yes, I never knew that doing this is a crime. No one never told me about this.”
However, when asked if he knew he was already married at the time he entered into a second marriage, Azebedo admitted that he did.
The court heard allegations that Azebedo, knowing his marriage to his first wife was still legally valid, went through another marriage ceremony with a second woman.
Justice Nanton reportedly expressed concern that the original terms of the plea agreement did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offense and insisted the payments be completed within one year so that the accused would “feel the sting” of his actions and not make a mockery of the court.
Under the court’s order, Azebedo must pay $1,000 to the Government of Belize and $1,000 compensation to his first wife by April 30, 2027. Failure to pay the court fine could result in six months imprisonment.
Following the hearing, attorney Elrington offered this advice to the public: “You can have two sweethearts, you can also have a sweetheart and a wife, but you cannot have two wives.”
The post $2,000 For 2 Wives: San Pedro ‘gyalist’ dodges 7 year sentence for bigamy, ‘Didn’t know he can have 2 sweetheart but only 1 wife’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A San Pedro man who allegedly used three different names while marrying two women has avoided a maximum prison sentence of 7 years after pleading guilty to bigamy in the High Court and being left to pay his first wife $1,000 in addition to a court fine because hell hath
The post $2,000 For 2 Wives: San Pedro ‘gyalist’ dodges 7 year sentence for bigamy, ‘Didn’t know he can have 2 sweetheart but only 1 wife’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.