By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Crown has closed its case in the murder trial of Juan Carlos Novelo, the Caye Caulker man accused of killing his common-law wife, Leslie Margarita Verde, inside her home in the Bahia area of the island in November 2023.
Verde, a mother of two, was found motionless behind the front door of her home in the early hours of November 4, 2023. She was rushed to the Caye Caulker Health Clinic, where she was later pronounced dead.
Novelo, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, is being tried before Justice Candace Nanton in a judge-alone trial at the High Court. He is represented by attorney Leeroy Banner.
On Thursday, the Crown called two key witnesses: the investigating officer and the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination on Verde’s body.
The examining doctor testified that Verde died from asphyxia due to neck compression. He told the court that injuries were found on the front and sides of her neck, along with extensive bleeding and bruising of the neck muscles. He said the injuries were not self-inflicted or accidental, and in his opinion, the death was a homicide caused by external force applied to the neck.
The defense, through cross-examination, suggested that Novelo was not responsible for Verde’s death and questioned whether police had conducted a proper and complete investigation.
The investigating officer testified that, although the scene initially appeared to suggest Verde may have hanged herself, he later ruled out suicide. He said the area where it was suggested she may have hanged herself was dusty and appeared untouched, leading investigators to conclude that foul play was involved.
The Crown also introduced video footage which reportedly showed Novelo going to and leaving Verde’s home during the early hours of the incident. According to the evidence presented, Verde was seen arriving home on her bicycle and going upstairs, but she was not seen leaving the house afterward.
One of Verde’s daughters, who was 13 years old at the time and is now 16, also testified during the trial. She reportedly told the court that she woke up and saw her stepfather shaking her mother’s motionless body. She later went back to sleep, and Verde’s body was eventually found in another area of the house, behind the front door.
Thursday’s proceedings were described as emotional for Verde’s family, with relatives visibly affected as evidence and photographs were presented in court.
Novelo was further remanded to the Belize Central Prison. The defense is expected to begin presenting its case on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. It has not yet been indicated whether Novelo will take the witness stand, give a dock statement, or remain silent.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Crown has closed its case in the murder trial of Juan Carlos Novelo, the Caye Caulker man accused of killing his common-law wife, Leslie Margarita Verde, inside her home in the Bahia area of the island in November 2023. Verde, a mother of two, was found motionless behind the
The post Crown closes case against Juan Carlos Novelo, accused of killing Leslie Verde then staging her death to look like suicide appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
