Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2025. 3:52 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two men convicted in the brutal 2013 murder of 70-year-old businessman Oscar Rosado Sr. returned to court today, hoping to have their convictions and sentences overturned. The pair—Brandon Hughes and Jose Gomez—were found guilty in December 2022 of killing the well-known shop owner during a robbery at his business, Rosado’s Store on Cemetery Road, Belize City.
In the High Court ruling, Hughes, identified as the gunman, was sentenced to life imprisonment, eligible for parole after 30 years. His co-accused, Gomez, who admitted to participating in the robbery but denied involvement in the shooting, received 12 years, with eligibility for parole after 8. Both men have been incarcerated since January 2023.
On Wednesday, their appeals were heard before Madam Justice of Appeal Marguerite Woodstock-Riley, KC; Justice Peter Foster, KC; and Justice Michelle Arana. After nearly two hours of legal arguments, the Court of Appeal reserved its decision for a later date.
Representing the appellants were Attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington for Hughes and attorney David McKoy for Gomez. The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Sheiniza Smith, appeared on behalf of the Crown.
Attorney Elrington argued that the conviction was “unsafe,” noting that no written judgment was provided at the time of conviction and that portions of the trial transcript were missing. He contended that this omission made it impossible to determine whether the trial judge properly assessed the evidence or correctly applied the law, calling it “a tremendous miscarriage of justice.”
However, Deputy DPP Smith maintained that the convictions were sound, asserting that the evidence clearly showed the men acted together in the robbery that led to Rosado’s murder. She urged the Court to uphold the convictions and sentences, emphasizing the lasting trauma suffered by the victim’s family.
Outside the courtroom, Oscar Rosado Jr., son of the slain businessman, spoke emotionally after attending the hearing.
“I am pleading with the judges to uphold the conviction,” he said. “This is not a game—this is about the pain of my mother, myself, and our family. My dad is dead; at least they have life.”
The appellate decision will be delivered at a future date yet to be announced.
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The post Convicted killers of businessman Oscar Rosado Sr. appeal conviction; Son pleads for judges to uphold conviction: ‘My dad is dead—at least they have life’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2025. 3:52 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two men convicted in the brutal 2013 murder of 70-year-old businessman Oscar Rosado
The post Convicted killers of businessman Oscar Rosado Sr. appeal conviction; Son pleads for judges to uphold conviction: ‘My dad is dead—at least they have life’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
