BELIZE CITY. Wed. Mar. 16, 2022– On Tuesday, March 15, in the Orange Walk Supreme Court, the trial of three men who were allegedly involved in the murder of Ramon Cervantes, Sr., 71, a former mayor, senator and businessman who was the father of Orange Walk North area representative, Hon. Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes, came to an unexpected conclusion when the three alleged killers pleaded guilty to the crime.
In a court hearing presided over by Justice Herbert Lord, Noe Gonzalez Avila, a 29-year-old Guatemalan national, pleaded guilty to murder; while Mateo Pott, a 35-year-old Belizean mason; and 26-year-old Angel Cardenas, a Belizean construction worker, of Trial Farm in the Orange Walk District, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Back in 2014, the family of Cervantes, Sr., became concerned when he did not come home for lunch at noon, and when they contacted him via phone, he was reportedly acting strange and speaking in an unusual tone of voice. Later, it was reported that Cervantes, Sr., had been abducted from his cane farm on the San Roman Road on Tuesday, July 1, and his body was found several days later, on July 5, partially decomposed and buried in a shallow grave on a farm just three and a half miles away, near the Honey Camp Lagoon on the outskirts of Orange Walk Town.
The trio were arraigned on July 11, 2014, before Magistrate Merlene Moody. They were read joint charges of murder, keeping a firearm without a gun license for a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, and keeping unlicensed ammunition for five 12-gauge cartridges that were allegedly found in their possession at the time.
“I think it’s the best legal justice that could’ve been gotten: one of them pleaded guilty to murder and the other two pleaded guilty to manslaughter. I think it’s the best that legal justice could have been obtained under our system and we’ll have to live with it. Like you said, it’s been a long time, almost 8 years, we have been awaiting. I think two witnesses have passed away over that time and one Crown witness also passed away during that time. But in the end, they knew what they did, and they accepted what they did, and thus their pleas,” stated Hon. Ramon Cervantes, Jr., who is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration.
The three men have not yet been sentenced for the crimes to which they respectively pleaded guilty, but Hon. Cervantes, Jr., told reporters that his family is allowed to submit Victim Impact Statements to sway the court’s sentencing decision.
“On our side, we’re also allowed to submit statements, victim impact statements, which will also be taken into account, I believe in the sentencing. So, [as] I said, we’re more than halfway there, and I think in the sentencing again, the best that our legal justice system can do will be done,” Hon. Cervantes, Jr., noted.
The alleged mastermind behind the abduction and murder of Cervantes, Sr., however, is still at large. Manuel Castillo, also known as “El Pelon”, was also named in the charge sheet, but escaped from the country along with his common-law wife, Avicela Duran — leaving behind their home in Orange Walk. However, Duran has returned to the country and has cleared her name of any allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the abduction/murder. Castillo, however, remains at large. Cervantes mentioned that he had spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, numerous times regarding the matter, but there has been no progress in efforts to locate and detain Castillo.
“I have spoken to the Commissioner of Police a few times, and he said that it’s with Interpol. I hope more movement would be done on that part, from the part of the police. I really hope that they take it more seriously and press on it, but that’s what the Commissioner has told me — it’s with Interpol,” Cervantes, Jr. mentioned.
Cervantes, Jr., expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him and his family in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“I just want to thank everyone who supported us during all this time. Nothing can bring back our father, but his legacy lives on. We should follow his good example and let always good things come out of it. I want to thank the people of Orange Walk, of Belize, everywhere. Thank you for being supportive of us. Thank you for being there for us always,” he said.
After appearing before Justice Herbert Lord, the three alleged killers were taken back to the Belize Central Prison to await sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on March 28. There will be a mitigation hearing on March 23.