By Aaron Humes: The Belize Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of attorney Oscar Selgado for a charge of abetment to commit murder. Selgado, who has been imprisoned for nearly four years, is set to be released after the panel declared his trial process unfair.
The Court of Appeal panel ruled that the conviction was unlawful, stating, “It follows from our determination, as a matter of law, that the trial process was unfair that this appeal is allowed. The conviction is quashed.” Due to the unavailability of a key witness, Giovanni Ramirez, to testify again, the court declined to order a re-trial and instead directed a judgment and verdict of acquittal to be entered.
Ramirez claimed he had been approached by Selgado to kill one Marilyn Barnes, who had made a complaint about him that was being investigated by the General Legal Council (GLC). Ramirez claimed he simply wanted money from Selgado in addition to legal assistance and so led him on, only to claim he was fearful for his life after initially agreeing to testify in person.
Selgado’s acquittal means he is expected to be released right away, just in time for Christmas. We’ll have more on the reasons for the decision later.
The post Oscar Selgado acquitted: Court of Appeal quashes conviction for abetment to commit murder appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: The Belize Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of attorney Oscar Selgado for a charge of abetment to commit murder. Selgado, who has been imprisoned for nearly four years, is set to be released after the panel declared his trial process unfair. The Court of Appeal panel ruled that the conviction
The post Oscar Selgado acquitted: Court of Appeal quashes conviction for abetment to commit murder appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
