By Breaking Belize News Staff: Twenty-six-year-old Jaylil Usher remains on remand at the Belize Central Prison pending sentencing for abetment to murder in connection with the 2023 shooting death of San Pedro fisherman Kean Quiros.
Usher entered into a plea agreement with the Crown for the lesser charge of abetment to murder. While the prosecution and defense have jointly proposed an eight-year prison sentence, Justice Nigel Pilgrim is not bound to accept that recommendation. Sentencing has been deferred to Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The case stems from the August 11, 2023 murder of 19-year-old Quiros, who was shot while inside his room in the San Mateo area of San Pedro Town. His brother, Anferne Quiros, reportedly heard several loud bangs and later found him bleeding from a wound to the chest. Quiros was taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where he died.
Police recovered eleven 7.62×39mm expended cartridges from the murder scene. Weeks later, on September 5, 2023, police searched Usher’s home in the San Mateo area and found a Chinese-made AK-47 rifle with an obliterated serial number, along with an empty 30-round magazine, concealed inside a pillowcase on his bed.
A forensic firearms analysis later concluded that the expended cartridges recovered from the murder scene were fired from the AK-47 found in Usher’s room.
During mitigation, Usher, represented by attorney Norman Rodriguez, expressed remorse to the family of the deceased.
“I express remorse to the deceased’s family for the loss,” Usher told the court.
Rodriguez also called three character witnesses on Usher’s behalf: his mother, Angela Auricia Usher; his fiancée, Aloveen Mariano; and his sister, Porsha Shomaie Belisle. They described him as quiet, humble, caring, and a father figure to his children. His fiancée asked the court to give him a second chance, saying Usher was the family’s sole provider.
However, Justice Pilgrim noted that although Usher was not before the court as the shooter, the fact that he was found in possession of the AK-47 used in the murder was a grave aggravating factor.
According to the agreed facts, Usher made the firearm available and enabled access to the weapon used in Quiros’ murder. At the time of the killing, Usher was 24 years old. The court also heard that he has previous convictions for possession of controlled drugs, keeping a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm with the serial number removed, escape from lawful custody, and damage to property.
Justice Pilgrim is expected to decide on Tuesday how many years Usher will serve.
The post Jaylil Usher awaits sentencing after plea deal in Kean Quiros murder case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Twenty-six-year-old Jaylil Usher remains on remand at the Belize Central Prison pending sentencing for abetment to murder in connection with the 2023 shooting death of San Pedro fisherman Kean Quiros. Usher entered into a plea agreement with the Crown for the lesser charge of abetment to murder. While the prosecution
The post Jaylil Usher awaits sentencing after plea deal in Kean Quiros murder case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
