By Breaking Belize News Staff: Maynor Rene Ancona, the man accused of causing the death of his common-law wife after allegedly throwing a conch shell during a fight in San Pedro, appeared in the High Court on Friday, where an attorney was appointed to represent him.
Ancona, 43, a labourer of the Tres Cocos area of San Pedro Town, remains on remand on a charge of manslaughter by negligence in connection with the death of 46-year-old American national Jennifer Lynn Griffith.
During Friday’s appearance before Justice Candace Nanton, the court was informed that Ancona could not afford to retain an attorney. Justice Nanton appointed attorney Oscar Selgado to represent him.
Selgado told the court that he was able to speak briefly with Ancona and will visit him at the Belize Central Prison after familiarizing himself with the case file.
The matter was adjourned to July 27, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
Ancona was first arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on April 12, 2024, after a fight at El Norte Bar in northern San Pedro. He was read charges of manslaughter by negligence, disorderly conduct, two counts of harm upon tour guide Elmer David Castro, harm upon Belizean cook Edeine Yurizet Valladarez, and wounding upon American business owner Daghan Ozberk.
According to police reports, Griffith and Ancona were at El Norte Bar on April 6, 2024, when Ancona allegedly became involved in an altercation with Castro. Police alleged that during the fight, Ancona threw conch shells, one of which struck Griffith to the back of the head.
Griffith later sought medical treatment at Ambergris Hope Hospital, where a doctor observed a fracture and referred her for an X-ray and CT scan. Police said Griffith refused further treatment and discharged herself.
She later returned to the hospital by ambulance and was pronounced dead on April 7, 2024.
A post-mortem examination certified her cause of death as head trauma due to being hit in the head with a conch shell.
Ancona was initially offered bail in the sum of $10,000 plus two sureties of the same amount. However, it is not clear why he remains behind bars.
The post Court appoints attorney for man accused of killing wife with conch shell during 2024 San Pedro bar fight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Maynor Rene Ancona, the man accused of causing the death of his common-law wife after allegedly throwing a conch shell during a fight in San Pedro, appeared in the High Court on Friday, where an attorney was appointed to represent him. Ancona, 43, a labourer of the Tres Cocos area
The post Court appoints attorney for man accused of killing wife with conch shell during 2024 San Pedro bar fight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
