By Breaking Belize News Staff: 30-year-old David Friessen, a Belizean national of the Mennonite community, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter by provocation in the death of his friend and drinking companion, Alexander Villamil.
Friessen appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at the High Court on Thursday morning, where the judge accepted a joint sentencing recommendation agreed upon by the Crown and the defense following Friessen’s guilty plea entered on November 17, 2025. The plea was entered on the day Friessen was indicted, bringing an end to a murder charge he initially faced.
Before imposing sentence, Justice Pilgrim confirmed that Friessen entered into the plea agreement freely and voluntarily. The court noted that manslaughter by provocation carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, with a sentencing range of eight to fourteen years and a starting point of twelve years.
In outlining the agreed facts, Justice Pilgrim said Friessen was 28 years old at the time of the offense and that the harm caused was the loss of Villamil’s life. The court heard victim impact statements from Villamil’s family, who described him as a quiet, helpful man and a father of two. His father told the court of the anguish and sleepless nights he endured when his son failed to return home, and said he felt deceived by Friessen, whom he considered his son’s friend.
The judge found that the killing arose from a spontaneous confrontation and was not a calculated act, noting that Friessen acted after being attacked and provoked. While the court increased the sentence for Friessen’s failure to immediately contact authorities after the incident, several mitigating factors were also considered. These included his lack of previous convictions, expressions of remorse, good character, cooperation with police, and his assistance in leading authorities to Villamil’s body.
After applying deductions, including a reduced credit of 10 percent for his guilty plea in line with Caribbean Court of Justice guidelines, Justice Pilgrim imposed a final sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment. The sentence was backdated to February 26, 2024, the date Friessen was first remanded into custody.
The court ordered that Friessen serve the full term for the manslaughter of Alexander Villamil.
The post David Friessen gets 13 years in manslaughter of Alexander Villamil appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: 30-year-old David Friessen, a Belizean national of the Mennonite community, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter by provocation in the death of his friend and drinking companion, Alexander Villamil. Friessen appeared before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at the High Court on Thursday morning, where the judge
The post David Friessen gets 13 years in manslaughter of Alexander Villamil appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
