Posted: Monday, June 16, 2025. 1:06 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: On Friday, Cassian Steve Billary, now 22 years old, was found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Micah Baltazar back in December 2020. The conviction was announced by High Court Justice Candace Nanton, who emphasized that the defense’s claim of duress was not sufficient to justify the violent act.
Baltazar was shot 17 times on December 14, 2020, near Neal’s Pen Road. The court heard evidence that he had been lured into a dangerous situation by acquaintances who promised to take him to meet someone. Instead, he was ambushed and killed in a premeditated attack. Following the shooting, police discovered his body lying face up on the pavement, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Crown Counsel Robert Lord, presented a series of evidence, including a written and recorded interview with Billary, where he stated that he had been coerced into committing the crime under threat of his own death. Billary alleged that two individuals, known only as “Son, Son” and “Tyreek,” forced him to kill Baltazar, stating, “Dah me kill deh man because they put gun on my head.” However, Justice Nanton rejected the defense argument, noting that the concept of duress does not provide justifiable grounds for murder under Belizean law.
Contrary to Billary’s claims, the judge found that the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to a voluntary act of violence and that the defendant’s confession, although contentious, was credible when cross-referenced with other testimonies.
Billary has been remanded to Belize Central Prison and is scheduled to return to court for a mitigation plea hearing on July 11.
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The post Cassian Billary convicted of murder of Micah Baltazar appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, June 16, 2025. 1:06 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: On Friday, Cassian Steve Billary, now 22 years old, was found guilty of murdering 19-year-old
The post Cassian Billary convicted of murder of Micah Baltazar appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
