Elderly mother, daughter and son found guilty of grievous harm in high-profile trial

By Breaking Belize News Staff: After two weeks of trial, a jury of nine individuals, comprising seven women and two men, has found a family trio guilty of grievous harm. The defendants, Irene Budd, 68, her daughter Ormencia Pou-Swift, 45, and son Aaron Fuentes, 34, faced charges for a violent altercation that occurred nearly 13 years ago.

The incident dates back to September 4, 2011, when Fuentes had a confrontation with Gilbert Blair at A&C Restaurant in Sandhill. The dispute escalated into a violent attack where Blair suffered severe injuries, including the loss of his right pinky finger and his left eye.

During the trial before Justice Nigel Pilgrim in High Court, the prosecution alleged that Fuentes initiated the attack with a machete. His mother, Budd, and sister, Pou, reportedly joined in, administering further beatings and causing additional injuries to Blair.

Blair, testifying from the witness stand, identified the trio as his attackers, detailing the brutal assault and the loss of his vision. Medical evidence presented during the trial confirmed Blair’s injuries, with Dr. Valdez testifying that the force used in the attack was consistent with injuries caused by someone very close to Blair.

While Pou took the stand in her defense, denying her presence at the crime scene during the attack, her mother and brother gave dock statements maintaining their innocence.

The jury’s verdict was unanimous for Budd and Pou, finding them guilty of the charges. However, Fuentes’s verdict was split 8/1, with eight jurors finding him guilty and one dissenting.

Justice Pilgrim deemed the offense a serious one and remanded the trio to the Belize Central Prison until their mitigation plea scheduled for May 31, 2024.

In the course of the trial, attorneys Darrel Bradley represented Fuentes, Ellis Arnold represented Pou and Budd, while Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith represented the prosecution.

The jury’s deliberations, which began at 11:30 AM today, saw them come out at 12:00 PM to seek clarification from the judge. They resumed deliberations at 12:16 PM and concluded their verdict at 4:00 PM.

The defense argued that Blair’s account was unreliable, emphasizing inconsistencies in his testimony and questioning the feasibility of his claims regarding the eye injuries.

The trial has attracted significant attention due to its violent nature and the long duration since the incident occurred. The community awaits the mitigation plea and the sentencing scheduled for May 31.

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