Two Men Still Await Sentencing Nearly Four Years After Manslaughter Pleas

Two men still awaiting sentence nearly four years after manslaughter pleas nearly four years after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Police Constable Osborne Martinez, Tyrique Myles and Glen Lopez are still waiting to be sentenced. Their case came before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim this afternoon and was adjourned to October 8. According to court reporter Anita Nembhard, Justice Pilgrim said he did not want any further delay. He asked the Crown and defence attorneys to assemble the agreed facts and material needed for mitigation so he can complete the sentencing. The court was also told that the agreed facts read when the men entered their pleas could not now be located. Justice Pilgrim directed the Registrar to provide the parties with the earlier judgment.  Martinez was shot and killed in November 2018 when police responded to a robbery at the Belcove Hotel in Belize City. Myles and Lopez were charged with murder alongside Rayford Mejia, then pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in November 2022. Mejia went to trial, was found guilty of murder and received a life sentence in June 2023. He must serve 25 years before becoming eligible for parole, with time already spent on remand credited toward that period. Senior Crown Counsel Riis Cattouse appeared for the prosecution this afternoon. Norman Rodriguez represented Myles, while Orson “OJ” Elrington appeared virtually for Lopez.