By Aaron Humes: On Tuesday in Belmopan, Belize Defence Force (BDF) Private Raheem Valencio was convicted before High Court Justice Natalie Creary-Dixon of the murder of fellow off-duty soldier Jesse Escobar during a grocery store confrontation in Santa Familia, Cayo District, in September 2021.
Escobar was shopping in civilian attire with his wife and child when he was shot. Eyewitness accounts described the moments leading up to the killing, including an alleged exchange that included the phrase ‘next boxer, next boxer.’
Senior Counsel Cheryl Lynn Vidal, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), spoke with Channel 7 News following the verdict. “They did, as part of the defence, advance that he did not intend to kill Jesse Escobar. The main part of the defense, however, was self-defense. In relation to intention, the judge would have been required to look at all of the circumstances of the case, and in her judgment, she said she considered the weapon that was used, the distance from which the shot was fired, and all of the circumstances leading up to what had taken place. And of course, in this case, the weapon used was an M4 carbine, which it came out in evidence, had a killing range of over 400 feet, and Jesse was just a few feet away, and the weapon was aimed towards his chest when the trigger was pulled. So, it was certain death. So, the judge did not agree that there was no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill Jesse when he fired the shot.”
Valencio’s defense rested heavily on claims of self-defense, insisting he believed his life was in danger. However, the prosecution successfully argued that, given the circumstances, Escobar posed no threat, undermining any assertion of self-defense. “He said that he felt that his life was in danger, but we were thankfully able to satisfy the court beyond a reasonable doubt that this man who was not approaching him aggressively but yes, admittedly, was walking towards him but had only a plastic cup in his hand, was really not threatening his life, and he could not have honestly believed that his life was in danger,” Vidal added.
Separately, a soldier and a police officer were convicted for perverting the course of justice for their roles in the events surrounding Escobar’s death.
DPP Vidal aligned with the judge on the necessity of reform and training in the use of force for law enforcement, indicating that the case serves as a sobering lesson for the entire justice system. “One of the things that I found really remarkable in the sentencing hearing to the soldier and the police officer, was that they did not seem to regard what happened as having been anything serious. Some of their mitigation witnesses characterized it as a little mistake. One of the attorneys, even in his address, said it was a small error. It was not. This strikes at the heart of the administration of justice, giving a false statement, whether it is a false statement to assist someone or to implicate someone. It is a very serious matter. And I hope that even though they may not have been willing to admit that this was something serious that was done, that the persons were looking who are listening, understand that if it is a person who has been found to have been implicated in encouraging someone or coercing someone to give a false statement, and even the person who has given that false statement, are amenable to be investigated, charged, prosecuted and convicted and then properly sentenced,” she stated.
The sentencing for Raheem Valencio is scheduled for February 9, 2026.
The post Private Raheem Valencio found guilty of murdering Jesse Escobar appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: On Tuesday in Belmopan, Belize Defence Force (BDF) Private Raheem Valencio was convicted before High Court Justice Natalie Creary-Dixon of the murder of fellow off-duty soldier Jesse Escobar during a grocery store confrontation in Santa Familia, Cayo District, in September 2021. Escobar was shopping in civilian attire with his wife and child
The post Private Raheem Valencio found guilty of murdering Jesse Escobar appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
