by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 14, 2023
Elmer Nah, a notorious former police corporal (who is currently on remand for multiple offenses, including murder charges), and his wife, Epifania Caliz, and brother-in-law, Manuel Caliz, all returned to the Magistrate Court in Belize City on Tuesday, June 13, for the continuation of the trial of the trio for illegal possession of ammunition that had been found in a vehicle in which all three persons had been traveling a short time after the landing of a drug plane in Bladen Village, Toledo.
When the three accused persons had appeared in court last month, Manuel and Epifania were granted bail, while Nah was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. But when the trio returned to court on Tuesday, the case took a dramatic turn when Epifania Caliz took the witness stand before Justice Baja Shoman and declared that she had used her cell phone to record the entire search by police that occurred when they were stopped at an Independence Village checkpoint in November of 2021 near Bladen Village, Toledo District. (It was during that search, which took place after a suspected drug plane had landed, that large quantities of ammunition [139 rounds of .223 ammo, and four 5.56 rounds, along with several other items] were discovered, which led to the charges against the three.)
Just as the video was about to be played, however, the prosecutor, Alifa Elrington, objected due to what she felt was a conflict of interest, as Caliz was playing the role of both a witness and a defendant in the matter. Thus, the case was adjourned for all parties, including Justice Shoman, (who requested written submissions on whether Caliz’s testimony will be valid in court) to research the possible conflict
Manuel Caliz was represented by his attorney, Leeroy Banner, and Epifania Caliz was represented by attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley. Meanwhile, Nah appeared unrepresented in court. The Crown is being represented by the Head of the Prosecution Branch, Alifah Elrington.
The trio are expected to return to court next Tuesday, June 20.