By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Former police corporal Elmer Nah will have to wait another day to learn his fate after Justice Nigel Pilgrim deferred sentencing in the high-profile Ramnarace triple murder case until Friday morning at 9:00.
Nah, a Belmopan resident, was convicted on May 29, 2026, for the December 31, 2022 killings of Vivian Ramnarace, her husband Jon Ramnarace, and David Ramnarace. He has been on remand for the past three years while his trial, which began in April 2025, proceeded before the High Court.
During Thursday’s mitigation hearing, Nah declined to participate in a Social Inquiry Report (SIR), a standard assessment prepared by the Community Rehabilitation Department to assist the court in sentencing. Justice Pilgrim questioned whether Nah understood the benefits of participating, but his attorney, Dr. Lynden Jones, confirmed that his client was aware and had chosen not to cooperate.
Nah also called no character witnesses and, according to observations made in court, showed no remorse for the killings.
Dr. Jones urged the court to remove a life sentence from consideration, arguing that Nah is capable of rehabilitation and could one day reintegrate into society. Crown Counsel Terrence Williams opposed the submission, while Justice Pilgrim indicated that determining the appropriate sentence was a difficult task and reserved his decision until Friday.
The hearing was marked by an emotional victim impact statement delivered by Vashti Belisle, sister of the late Vivian Ramnarace. Over the course of approximately 30 minutes, Belisle recounted the devastating impact the murders have had on the family, describing Vivian as a devoted daughter, mother, wife and sister whose loss continues to reverberate throughout their lives.
Belisle also spoke of Vivian’s daughter, who was just five years old when both of her parents were killed and is now eight. According to Belisle, the child asked what would happen to the “bad guy” who killed her parents and initially asked the judge to sentence Nah to 50 years in prison.
“The next morning she woke up and said, ‘Aunty, I think 50 years is too little,’” Belisle recounted.
She told the court that the child has effectively been given a life sentence of growing up without her parents and now fears losing the remaining members of her family.
Addressing Justice Pilgrim directly, Belisle acknowledged the difficulty of his role but urged him to consider the trauma inflicted on the family and the lasting scars left on an innocent child.
“I hope Elmer Nah is still a child of God who is capable of being forgiven,” she said. “But he must be held responsible for the harm and devastation caused because justice requires he be held accountable.”
Nah has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. As he was escorted from court on Thursday and asked if he had anything to say, Nah responded: “Don’t watch me fall, watch me rise.”
Justice Pilgrim is expected to hand down sentence at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.
The post Elmer Nah awaits fate as judge defers sentence in Ramnarace triple murder case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Former police corporal Elmer Nah will have to wait another day to learn his fate after Justice Nigel Pilgrim deferred sentencing in the high-profile Ramnarace triple murder case until Friday morning at 9:00. Nah, a Belmopan resident, was convicted on May 29, 2026, for the December 31, 2022 killings
The post Elmer Nah awaits fate as judge defers sentence in Ramnarace triple murder case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
