By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Crown is asking the High Court to impose a life sentence on convicted murderer Krismar Espinosa for the execution-style killing of cyclist and bicycle technician Wilbert “Yellow” Banks Jr., arguing that several aggravating factors make a fixed-term sentence inappropriate.
During mitigation before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, Crown Counsel Maria Nembhard-Santana stressed that Espinosa had previously been convicted of manslaughter in another killing and had only been out of prison for approximately nine months when he was charged with Banks’ murder. The Crown also pointed to the use of a firearm, the seven gunshot wounds suffered by Banks and evidence that the killing had been planned in advance.
Espinosa, meanwhile, declined to personally address the court and called no character witnesses. Through his attorney, he continued to maintain his innocence and relied on a Social Inquiry Report prepared for sentencing.
Justice Pilgrim has reserved sentencing until October 13, 2026. Espinosa remains on remand at the Belize Central Prison.
Banks, 38, was shot seven times on April 5, 2024, in the Lake Garden area near Ladyville. He attempted to drive away after being shot but crashed his vehicle. Police recovered nine 9mm expended shells and a cellphone from the scene.
The prosecution’s key witness was Banks’ former girlfriend, who was Espinosa’s girlfriend at the time. She testified by video link that Espinosa threatened to kill her and her young son unless she lured Banks to the Lake Garden area. She said Banks later drove her there, where Espinosa emerged and opened fire.
Justice Pilgrim found Espinosa guilty of murder on July 31 following a trial without a jury. The court accepted the woman as a credible and reliable witness and rejected Espinosa’s account that he was at home when Banks was killed.
The court also heard emotional victim-impact statements from Banks’ employer Andrew Ordonez, his father Wilbert Banks Sr. and his 14-year-old daughter. His daughter recalled Sunday barbecues, Valentine’s Day gifts and the sense of safety she felt around her father, telling the court that “Father’s Day is no longer the same.”
Banks was well known in Belize’s cycling community and worked at Ordonez Bike Shop. His death was widely mourned after the 2024 killing.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Crown is asking the High Court to impose a life sentence on convicted murderer Krismar Espinosa for the execution-style killing of cyclist and bicycle technician Wilbert “Yellow” Banks Jr., arguing that several aggravating factors make a fixed-term sentence inappropriate. During mitigation before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, Crown Counsel Maria Nembhard-Santana
The post Crown seeks life sentence for Krismar Espinosa in execution-style murder of Wilbert Banks Jr. appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
