By Breaking Belize News Staff: An emotional Corporal Juan Carlos Morales delivered a dramatic and lengthy final plea for mercy in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, breaking down as he apologized to the family of the late BDF soldier Jessie Escobar—and leveling serious allegations against the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Morales, who along with BDF soldier Ramon Alberto Alcoser was convicted of perverting the course of justice in connection with the September 5, 2021 shooting death of Escobar in Santa Familia Village, told the court he is “begging for mercy and forgiveness” while describing the personal, emotional, and financial collapse he has endured since the incident.
But the most explosive moment came when Morales accused a police sergeant and a senior Justice of the Peace of lying in statements tied to the case and alleged that Madam DPP was aware of the questionable statement. Morales claimed he had given his attorney documents proving the misconduct and insisted he had evidence showing the sergeant “lied in an interview” and that the JP also provided a false statement.
According to Morales, the same sergeant who allegedly gave a false statement was also the one who collected that statement from the JP, and he insisted the DPP “had knowledge of the said statement.” Following the allegations, the DPP requested an adjournment to prepare a response.
In a deeply emotional address, Morales recounted his difficult upbringing, including losing his father to alcoholism on Christmas Day and growing up with depression. He said he had dedicated his life to serving Belize, rising from a cadet to a police constable, and had just been promoted weeks before the fatal shooting.
Morales said he was performing his duties enforcing COVID-19 mask regulations when the confrontation unfolded and Escobar was killed. “I wish that night I was the one who died,” he told the court. He claimed he was instructed to give a statement even though he was not in the right state of mind and felt abandoned by the department afterward.
He described financial hardship, suicidal thoughts, and struggling to support his three children on $300 every two weeks while interdicted.
He said the Belize Police Department prevented him from working a night security job despite multiple written requests to the Commissioner of Police.
Attorneys Ellis Arnold and Darrell Cardona urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence on both men, arguing they have already suffered significantly and pose no threat to society.
Arnold stressed that Morales was treated for suicidal tendencies while on remand and warned that imprisonment “would be tantamount” to putting his life at risk. He suggested a fine or suspended sentence instead.
In response, the DPP emphasized that perverting the course of justice is a hybrid offense with a maximum sentence of five years, noting that the men intentionally lied to assist accused shooter Raheem Valencia in claiming self-defense. Valencia has since been charged with murder and awaits a verdict.
The DPP questioned whether merely imposing a fine would serve the public interest or act as a deterrent to other officers, stressing that the integrity of the justice system is at stake.
Although both sides completed their submissions, time constraints forced the Senior Magistrate to defer sentencing. The matter has been adjourned to Friday, December 12, 2025, when the court is expected to deliver its decision.
The case continues to draw national attention—not only for the circumstances of Escobar’s death but now for the serious accusations made against senior law enforcement and prosecutorial officials as the convicted officers await their fate.
The post Corporal Juan Morales breaks down in court over sentencing for perverting the course of justice, accuses DPP of knowledge of allegedly false statement appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: An emotional Corporal Juan Carlos Morales delivered a dramatic and lengthy final plea for mercy in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, breaking down as he apologized to the family of the late BDF soldier Jessie Escobar—and leveling serious allegations against the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
The post Corporal Juan Morales breaks down in court over sentencing for perverting the course of justice, accuses DPP of knowledge of allegedly false statement appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
