Belize City man found guilty of attempted murder after victim testifies from the United States

A Belize City man has been found guilty of attempted murder following a High Court trial in which the victim testified from the United States after fleeing Belize out of fear for her life.  Twenty-six-year-old Michael Gladden, also known as “Wanie,” was yesterday convicted in the High Court of Belize for the attempted murder of Karen Pinto, a 33-year-old Belize City resident who survived a violent shooting in December 2020.  The guilty verdict was delivered by Justice Candace Nanton, who ruled that Pinto’s testimony, given through a video link from the United States, was both credible and reliable. The judge noted that despite the trauma she experienced during the attack, Pinto’s evidence remained consistent and unshaken throughout the trial.  According to the court, Pinto was forced to flee Belize after the shooting and was later granted asylum in the United States. However, she returned virtually to testify against Gladden in the case prosecuted by Crown Counsel Joseph Perez from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.  Justice Nanton also determined that the evidence showed a joint enterprise between Gladden and another gunman in the attempt on Pinto’s life and that the accused had been properly identified by the victim as one of the shooters. The court further concluded that the actions of the attackers demonstrated a clear intention to kill.  During her testimony, Pinto recounted the terrifying events of the evening of the attack. She told the court that around 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday in December 2020, she had left her home with her former common-law husband to visit a nearby shop. While walking, they noticed Gladden and another man standing under a tree along the route.  On their way back home, the two men began following them before suddenly opening fire. Pinto testified that the other gunman first shot at her companion, who fled after taking cover. Fearing for her life, Pinto ran as well.  She told the court that as she attempted to escape near the London Bridge area, her slippers broke and she jumped from the bridge into a swampy area below in an attempt to hide. The two men pursued her and continued firing shots in her direction.  While struggling to stay afloat in the muddy water, Pinto said both attackers approached her. She testified that Gladden fired shots at her while she was in the swamp. Believing she was about to die, she pretended to be dead in order to fool the attackers.  The ruse worked. Pinto said the men believed she had died and left the area. After they ran off, a nearby resident helped her to safety and contacted police. She was later taken to hospital for treatment.  During the trial, Gladden’s attorney had submitted that there was insufficient evidence identifying his client and argued that there was no proof of a joint enterprise. However, the prosecution maintained that Pinto had known Gladden for more than a year prior to the incident and clearly identified him before, during, and after the attack.  Justice Nanton rejected the defense’s no-case submission and ultimately found the evidence sufficient to convict.  Gladden has been remanded to prison pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for May 8. The court has ordered several reports ahead of that hearing, including a Social Inquiry Report, a Victim Impact Statement, an Antecedent History, and a Prison Report for the convicted man.  Under Belizean law, the offence of attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.