Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 4:59 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision in the case of David Cruz, who is appealing his life sentence for the 2019 murder of 28-year-old Timroy Neal in Roaring Creek Village.
Cruz, who was 25 years old at the time of the killing, was convicted three years later and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole until after 30 years. His attorney, Leroy Banner, is seeking to have both the conviction and sentence overturned, arguing that Cruz’s trial was unfair due to a flawed identification process.
Before the appellate panel—Hon. Madam Marguerite Woodstock-Riley, KC; Hon. Madam Sandra Minott-Phillips, KC; and Hon. Mr. Peter Foster—Banner submitted two main grounds of appeal. He argued that the trial judge erred in law by allowing a dock identification by Police Constable Shawn Williams, the key witness who identified Cruz as the shooter, and that the judge failed to properly warn himself of the dangers of relying on such identification.
Banner contended that PC Williams admitted during cross-examination that he did not personally know Cruz, and therefore, an identification parade should have been conducted. He maintained that the identification amounted to a “fleeting glance” and that the case was not one of recognition, making the dock ID unreliable and resulting in a miscarriage of justice.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, KC, who appeared for the Crown, countered that no identification parade was necessary, asserting that no miscarriage of justice occurred and that the trial judge acted in accordance with the Turnbull guidelines for identification evidence.
One of the appeal judges, however, pointed out that the witness’s statement did not indicate how he knew Cruz, and asked the DPP to elaborate on the alleged inconsistencies raised by Banner.
The appeal, which lasted over an hour, concluded with the Court reserving its decision for a later date.
The murder of Timroy Neal occurred on December 12, 2019, around 10:30 p.m., in front of Lucky Entertainment Place, located across from the Roaring Creek Police Station. Surveillance footage captured the brutal execution, showing a gunman chasing Neal, shooting him multiple times, and then firing several rounds into his head at point-blank range.
Cruz surrendered to police on January 14, 2020, and was arraigned the following day for murder. He was convicted in 2022 after the surveillance footage was admitted as key evidence linking him to the killing.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling will determine whether Cruz’s conviction stands—or if he will be granted a retrial or set free.
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The post David Cruz is latest convicted murderer appealing his sentence and conviction for 2019 murder of Timroy Neal appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 4:59 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision in the case of David
The post David Cruz is latest convicted murderer appealing his sentence and conviction for 2019 murder of Timroy Neal appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
