By Breaking Belize News Staff: A nine-member jury has found Marvin Cal guilty of causing death by careless conduct in connection with a fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of Oscar Rhodas in November 2023.
The jury, comprising six women and three men, retired to deliberate at 11:50 a.m. on Thursday and returned a unanimous verdict after approximately two hours and 38 minutes. They concluded that Cal was the driver of the white Ford Ranger pickup truck involved in the crash, rejecting his defense that he had been a passenger.
The incident occurred on November 12, 2023, between miles 2 and 3 on the Burrell Boom/Hattieville Road. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Cal had been speeding and overtaking a bus when he lost control of the vehicle, swerving into the path of a grey Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by Gilbert Gillett. The collision resulted in Rhodas, who was seated in the pan of Cal’s vehicle, being flung from the truck and dying on impact.
Key testimony came from Police Sergeant Shane Pook, one of the first responders, who stated that Cal was found trapped behind the steering wheel and had to be extricated using the Jaws of Life. Civilian witnesses also testified that the white Ford Ranger was being driven recklessly prior to the collision, swerving across the roadway after attempting to overtake a bus.
The prosecution, led by Crown Counsel Maria Nembhard-Santana, relied on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitness accounts and expert testimony. Among the expert witnesses were crime scene technician William Wade, motor vehicle expert Gareth Palacio, and pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran, who determined that Rhodas died from severe head injuries consistent with a high-impact road traffic accident.
In his defense, Cal maintained in an unsworn dock statement that he was not the driver but a passenger, claiming he had been seated beside another individual at the time of the crash. He stated that he was assisted out of the vehicle by emergency personnel and was later charged by police nearly a year after the incident.
However, the jury accepted the prosecution’s case, finding that Cal’s presence trapped behind the steering wheel and the totality of the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he had been the driver and was responsible for the fatal collision.
Following the verdict, Justice Derick Sylvester revoked Cal’s bail and remanded him to the Belize Central Prison pending sentencing on June 16, 2026. The court has ordered the preparation of a Victim Impact Statement, a Social Inquiry Report, and an antecedent report.
Cal’s attorney, Hurl Hamilton, indicated that three character witnesses are expected to testify on his behalf during the mitigation phase. While the offense carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, the court may also consider a non-custodial sentence, including a fine, depending on the mitigating and aggravating factors presented at sentencing.
The post Jury finds Marvin Cal guilty in Burrell Boom Road crash that killed Oscar Rhodas; remanded to prison pending sentencing appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A nine-member jury has found Marvin Cal guilty of causing death by careless conduct in connection with a fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of Oscar Rhodas in November 2023. The jury, comprising six women and three men, retired to deliberate at 11:50 a.m. on Thursday and returned a
The post Jury finds Marvin Cal guilty in Burrell Boom Road crash that killed Oscar Rhodas; remanded to prison pending sentencing appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.