Posted: Monday, February 24, 2025. 1:07 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: Four of the six men charged in a brazen 2019 armed robbery case were found guilty of multiple offences. The verdict was delivered by the Chief Magistrate after a lengthy trial where the evidence for charges on gang affiliations as well the reliability of witness testimonies were questioned.
The accused — Kareem Heusner, 36; Raheem Budram, 24; Alton Garcia, 29; and Frank Lizama, 24 — faced serious charges, including robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, among others. The charges stemmed from a brazen robbery that took place on July 11, 2019, when the group allegedly stole firearms belonging to Chinese businessmen You Qui Chen and Hong Bin He.
The Chief Magistrate ruled that while the evidence was insufficient to uphold gang-related charges, the quartet was guilty of possessing Chen’s black .380 calibre Glock pistol and associated live ammunition. Interestingly, the trial did not implicate the two deceased co-defendants, Shane Budram and Delroy Chaplin, further narrowing the case’s focus on the surviving defendants.
During the robbery, Chen and his daughter were reportedly confronted by two masked individuals armed with guns. Although Chen had initially reported multiple items stolen, his testimony during the trial focused primarily on the firearm and cash taken from them, raising concerns about the clarity of his account.
Despite the prosecution’s case, which included testimonies from police officials and Chen, the defense team successfully challenged several charges. The Chief Magistrate noted a lack of evidence linking the defendants to gang activity or proving their involvement in a broader criminal conspiracy.
The four convicted men were remanded to the Belize Central Prison and are scheduled for a mitigation plea hearing on February 28.
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The post Four men found guilty in brazen high-profile armed robbery case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, February 24, 2025. 1:07 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: Four of the six men charged in a brazen 2019 armed robbery case were found
The post Four men found guilty in brazen high-profile armed robbery case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.