Posted: Saturday, December 21, 2024. 8:51 am CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Justice Nigel Pilgrim has sentenced 21-year-old Julio Paiz Jr. to a fixed life term of 30 years for the 2021 murder of his friend and former co-worker, Hilberto Caliz Jr. The sentencing was delivered this week after a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the crime and the offender’s actions.
The incident, which occurred on December 11, 2021, was described as a public execution. Paiz shot Caliz twice in front of his wife in broad daylight, following an apparent act of revenge. The conflict stemmed from Caliz reporting Paiz to their employer for bullying his wife, which led to Paiz losing his job. Days later, Paiz carried out the fatal attack.
Justice Pilgrim considered the premeditation, use of a firearm, and public nature of the crime as significant aggravating factors. He also noted the devastating impact on the victim’s family, citing heartfelt victim impact statements from Caliz’s mother and brother, who described the immense loss they have endured.
While Paiz expressed remorse and claimed to have changed during his three years on remand, Justice Pilgrim highlighted the seriousness of the offense, including the breach of trust in killing a friend, and Paiz’s troubling record of infractions while in prison.
Starting with a baseline sentence of 30 years, the judge weighed the mitigating and aggravating factors before confirming the fixed term. Paiz will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. The term is effective from December 16, 2021, the date of his initial remand.
The Crown was represented by Senior Crown Counsel Sheiniza Smith, while Paiz was defended by attorney Emmerita Anderson.
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The post Julio Paiz Jr. sentenced to 30 years for execution-style murder of friend appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Saturday, December 21, 2024. 8:51 am CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: Justice Nigel Pilgrim has sentenced 21-year-old Julio Paiz Jr. to a fixed life
The post Julio Paiz Jr. sentenced to 30 years for execution-style murder of friend appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.