By Breaking Belize News Staff: Twenty-six-year-old Michael Gladden, also known as “Wannie,” remains behind bars after Justice Candace Nanton rejected a no case submission made in his ongoing attempted murder trial.
Gladden is on trial in the High Court for the attempted murder of a 33-year-old Belize City woman. The incident occurred on Sunday, December 20, 2020, in the London Bridge area of Antelope Street, Belize City.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, Gladden’s attorney, Ian Gray, submitted that there was no case to answer. Gray argued that there was insufficient evidence identifying Gladden as one of the assailants and that there was an absence of proof of any joint enterprise involving the accused.
However, Crown Counsel Joseph Perez from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions countered that there was ample evidence linking Gladden to the crime. Perez told the court that the virtual complainant testified she had known Gladden for a year and a half prior to the shooting and had seen him three weeks before the incident. She also stated she saw him before and throughout the shooting.
Perez further submitted that Gladden maintained a continuous presence alongside the principal offender during every critical moment of the attack. According to the evidence, Gladden moved with the gunman, remained at the scene until the woman was injured and playing dead, and was heard telling the principal, “She done dead, let’s go,” before they fled. The Crown argued that under the principles in R v Galbraith, the no case submission could not succeed.
Justice Nanton agreed with the prosecution and overturned the no case submission, ruling that Gladden must answer to the charge of attempted murder.
The trial, which began on Friday, February 6, 2026, also featured testimony from the woman via video link. The woman, who has since sought asylum in the United States out of fear following the attempt on her life, was sworn in remotely. Before her testimony began, Justice Nanton ensured she was alone in the room and had no documents related to the case in her possession.
The woman told the court that on the evening of December 20, 2020, at around 6:30 p.m., she left her home with her ex-common-law husband to visit a nearby shop. Along the way, she saw Gladden and another man standing under a tree. She said her ex remarked that the two men appeared to be “up to something.”
After leaving the shop and heading back home, the two men began walking behind them and then approached. She testified that the other man first fired shots at her ex, who ran for cover. Fearing for her life, she also ran but said her slippers burst while crossing the London Bridge area, forcing her to jump into a swampy, muddy area below in an attempt to hide.
She told the court that both men pursued her, firing several shots in her direction. While struggling to stay afloat in the swamp, she said Gladden opened fire at her. Believing she would die, she said she “played dead” to fool her attackers. Convinced she was dead, the men fled the scene.
She testified that she later saw the two men jump back onto the bridge and run in the opposite direction. A Hispanic male who was nearby reportedly warned her to remain hidden until the area was clear. With his assistance, she eventually made it out of the swamp and was taken to the hospital after police were called.
Gladden was initially charged alongside a second suspect, Deandre Adolphus, who was later killed in a separate shooting incident in the Jump Street area in 2021 or 2022. Gladden is now the sole accused standing trial.
The matter continues before Justice Nanton in the High Court.
The post Michael ‘Wannie’ Gladden will answer attempted murder charge after ‘eyeing’ no case submission appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Twenty-six-year-old Michael Gladden, also known as “Wannie,” remains behind bars after Justice Candace Nanton rejected a no case submission made in his ongoing attempted murder trial. Gladden is on trial in the High Court for the attempted murder of a 33-year-old Belize City woman. The incident occurred on Sunday, December
The post Michael ‘Wannie’ Gladden will answer attempted murder charge after ‘eyeing’ no case submission appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.