Yesterday afternoon in the Orange Walk Supreme Court, Belize Defense Force (BDF) Private Paulino Assi, 23, was convicted by a jury of 9 on a manslaughter charge dating back to a November 21, 2008 incident. His conviction is in connection with the shooting death of George Kenny Cortez, 21, a Douglas resident who died the next day.
As a result of the floods of November 2008, families from the surrounding area were forced to move into the San Pablo Community Center after floods engulfed their homes.
This facility then became the scene where Private Paulino, who was tasked with keeping the peace, killed Cortez, according to the evidence provided.
It was reported by the authorities that Cortez was behaving drunk and disorderly. This was when a pair of soldiers (including Assi) tried to calm him down; they claim that the unarmed Cortez started advancing towards them.
They claimed that they fired two warning shots but Cortez continued to advance, and that’s when Private Paulino Assi fired a third shot that hit Cortez in his right thigh, damaging a major blood vessel; he ultimately died as a result of his injuries.
Five eyewitnesses testified for the prosecution that they saw Assi shoot Cortez with an AR-15 rifle.
A jury of 9 deliberated for three and a half hours before reaching a 7-2 verdict. Justice Herbert Lord has deferred sentencing until Thursday, March 3, in order to give Assi’s attorney, Lionel Welch, time to prepare a mitigation plea.
Assi testified that he shot Cortez because he was approaching his lance corporal in an aggressive manner, and that he had his hand in his pocket.