Michael Silva, 28, who has been charged with murder for the death of Maritza Santos, 19, a domestic of Hillview, and who has been on remand at the Belize Central Prison since November 2013, was brought to the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court today, where the murder charge was read to him. He was committed to trial at the upcoming October session of the Supreme Court.

Police have accused Silva of killing Santos by beating her in the head, and then trying to commit suicide by drinking the poison Paraquat.

Santos died, but Silva survived. First he was taken to a private hospital in Belize City, and then he was taken to Guatemala for treatment for the internal injuries he suffered.

After two years abroad, Silva failed to return home, and Interpol was contacted. On November 7 of last year, Silva returned to Belize and handed himself over to San Ignacio police.

Police immediately charged Silva with murder, and he was remanded to prison until today, Monday, when he was returned to court.

The fateful incident allegedly occurred at about 7:00 Friday evening, September 24, 2011, in the Kontiki area of San Ignacio, in the home of Michael Silva. Police said that they responded to a report of an incident at Silva’s home, and on their arrival at the house, they found Maritza Santos dead on a bed in one of the bedrooms.

Police say there was a large cut wound on the right side of Santos’ forehead, and a pillow was covering her face. She had been bleeding from her head.

Police also found an almost empty quart of paraquat, a herbicide, in the house.

Silva’s attorney, Richard Bradley, said that when Silva was taken out of the country for treatment abroad, he was not a fugitive from justice, because the police and the DPP’s office had been kept abreast of his progress. Silva returned when he was well, Bradley said, and was charged with murder and remanded to prison.