Posted: Friday, July 18, 2025. 11:42 am CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A major development unfolded on Thursday in Court in the sensational 2022 Orange Walk gun and drug bust trial, as attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley submitted a no case to answer application on behalf of Woman Police Constable Stephanie Marie Patten Cima, 24, and her co-accused, Mexican national Misael Contreras Varela, 21.
Bradley’s submission, made just after midday before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, invoked the first two limbs of the Galbraith principle. He argued that there is either no evidence against the accused or that the evidence presented is insufficient to meet the required legal threshold for the trial to proceed.
The prosecution, led by a police sergeant, indicated that the Crown is relying on its witnesses who have already testified. Chief Magistrate Rogers is expected to hear the Crown’s response on Monday before ruling on whether the case against Cima and Varela will be dismissed or continue to full trial.
The charges stem from a raid conducted in Orange Walk in July 2022, where police reportedly found unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and drugs inside a house. At the time, four individuals were arrested: Cima; Varela; Joshua Brandon Hall, 24, of Corozal Town; and Alden Lara, 22, of Belize City.
Lara pleaded guilty during arraignment, taking full responsibility for the contraband and admitting he brought the illegal items to the house. He is now serving time for the offenses. Hall has since absconded, leaving only Cima and Varela to face trial.
Originally heard in Orange Walk, the matter was transferred to Belize City in early 2025. Cima is currently out on High Court bail, while Varela remains on remand at the Belize Central Prison, as he was denied bail due to flight risk concerns.
Chief Magistrate Rogers is expected to deliver her decision on the no case submission next week.
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The post ‘Dickie’ Bradley makes No Case Submission for client in high-profile Orange Walk gun and drug bust trial appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2025. 11:42 am CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: A major development unfolded on Thursday in Court in the sensational 2022 Orange
The post ‘Dickie’ Bradley makes No Case Submission for client in high-profile Orange Walk gun and drug bust trial appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
