By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two men accused of murder—both involving spouses as victims—were returned to the High Court on Friday afternoon for further Case Management Conferences (CMC) as their matters continue to move toward trial.
The accused are Miguelito Encalada and Juan Carlos Novelo, who appeared before Candace Nanton.
First to be addressed was the case of 39-year-old Miguelito Encalada, a barber of Ladyville Village, who is charged with the murders of his wife, Desiree Elizabeth Gonzalez, and his brother, 25-year-old George Vincent Rochester. The killings are alleged to have occurred on Thursday, April 20, 2023, on Scissortail Street, Ladyville.
During Part II of Encalada’s CMC, the Crown, represented by Crown Counsel Denfield Dennison, indicated it intends to call one live witness for examination-in-chief and cross-examination, two witnesses for cross-examination only, and three agreed witnesses whose statements will be read into evidence. Encalada is represented by attorney Hurl Hamilton.
Hamilton informed the court that the defense intends to challenge the admissibility of an interview allegedly conducted by police, arguing that the Justice of the Peace did not properly discharge their duties, despite the existence of a video recording. A voir dire is therefore anticipated before the trial can commence.
Justice Nanton ordered the defense to file its written grounds by February 28, 2026, with the Crown to respond by March 12, 2026. Further CMC is scheduled for March 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Trial dates have been agreed for March 19, 20, 23–27, and March 30–31, 2026. The court noted that Encalada’s trial is expected to last approximately nine days. Encalada and his wife were the operators of D’s Bistro and a barber shop run from their home.
The court then turned to the murder case against Juan Carlos Novelo, who is accused of killing his wife. Novelo is represented by attorney Leroy Banner, who appeared virtually, while the Crown was again represented by Denfield Dennison.
The Crown indicated it intends to rely on a second expert report in Novelo’s case. Justice Nanton ordered that grounds for the request for additional expert evidence—along with an invoice for state funding—be filed by February 27, 2026. The Crown is to respond to the defense’s request by March 13, 2026, and to also provide a typed and legible version of the post-mortem report currently on file.
Trial for Novelo has been set for June 29, 2026, and is expected to last between five and ten days due to expert evidence, testimony from two minors, and the anticipated need to address language barrier issues. Further CMC is scheduled for April 13, 2026.
Juan Carlos Novelo, 44, a maintenance worker of Caye Caulker Village, was arraigned on November 6, 2023, for the murder of his wife, 32-year-old Leslie Margarita Verde, which allegedly occurred on Saturday, November 4, 2023, on Caye Caulker.
Both Encalada and Novelo were further remanded to the Belize Central Prison until April 13, 2026.
The post Pair of accused ‘Lady Killers’ return to court for case management in respective murder charges appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Two men accused of murder—both involving spouses as victims—were returned to the High Court on Friday afternoon for further Case Management Conferences (CMC) as their matters continue to move toward trial. The accused are Miguelito Encalada and Juan Carlos Novelo, who appeared before Candace Nanton. First to be addressed was
The post Pair of accused ‘Lady Killers’ return to court for case management in respective murder charges appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.