By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two siblings accused of attempting to murder a Belize City man have pleaded not guilty after being indicted in the High Court and have seen their case adjourned to 2026 as they remain without legal representation.
The accused are Rick Jones and his sister Pamela Estrada, who appeared late Thursday before Justice Candace Nanton. Both were indicted for the offense of attempted murder and entered not guilty pleas.
Estrada, who was 35 years old at the time of the incident and is now 37 and her brother, Ricky Scotty Jones, then 28 and now 30, are currently out on bail, which was further extended by the court.
In court, the siblings informed Justice Nanton that they are unrepresented and requested time to obtain legal counsel. The request was granted, and the matter was adjourned to March 2, 2026.
The siblings were initially arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, July 13, 2023, charged with attempting to murder Leon Shane Vernon using a deadly instrument, to wit, a knife. At the time of her arraignment, Estrada was pregnant.
The charges stem from an incident on Monday, July 10, 2023, when Vernon was stabbed during an altercation on Victoria Street. Police reports indicate that around 4:20 p.m., officers attached to the Crimes Investigation Branch, Precinct 3, responded to information received of a stabbing and proceeded to the K.H.M.H Accident and Emergency Section.
There, police observed Vernon, then 26, a Belizean food processor of Belize City, with apparent stab wounds to his body. Initial investigations revealed that about 4:00 p.m. that day, a brawl broke out after which Vernon was seen running from the yard bleeding from stab wounds.
Police say Vernon was attacked by several individuals on the street and later collapsed a short distance away. He was quickly transported by police to the hospital for medical treatment.
Several persons in the area were interviewed, and police report that useful information was obtained as part of the ongoing investigation.
The matter remains before the High Court.
The post Brother and sister plead not guilty to attempted murder in 2023 stabbing incident appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two siblings accused of attempting to murder a Belize City man have pleaded not guilty after being indicted in the High Court and have seen their case adjourned to 2026 as they remain without legal representation. The accused are Rick Jones and his sister Pamela Estrada, who appeared late Thursday
The post Brother and sister plead not guilty to attempted murder in 2023 stabbing incident appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
