After a number of adjournments, police constable Burton Caliz, Jr., 25, who was found guilty of manslaughter on January 29, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years by Justice John Gonzalez.
Caliz’s conviction was for the fatal shooting of Leroy “Dan” Pilgrim, 23, which occurred on February 12, 2004, in the San Juan area of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
Before he passed sentence, Justice Gonzalez heard pleas for mitigation from Caliz’s primary school teacher, Pamela Bodden, who is the vice-principal of St. Luke Methodist Primary School; Inspector Dinsdale Thompson, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Gerald Westby; and attorney Dickie Bradley.
Bradley also spoke for Caliz’s second attorney, Ellis Arnold, for whom he held brief.
It came out from their testimonies that Caliz, who is originally from Mafredi Village, Toledo, was first a farmer and then a carpenter before he joined the Police Force at the age of 19.
Bradley said Caliz told him to convey to the court that he is truly sorry for what happened and he has asked for leniency. He also said that Caliz has no previous convictions.
Bradley submitted to Justice Gonzalez that he should give Caliz the minimum sentence of 10 years and cut it in half, so that Caliz serve 5 years in prison and be given the remaining 5 as a suspended sentence. But Justice Gonzalez did not split the sentence in half, even though he gave Caliz the minimum.
Caliz’s sentence is to commence from January 29. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.
Caliz was first charged with manslaughter, then the charge was upgraded to murder. Seven months later, the charge of murder was reduced back to manslaughter.
During the time Caliz was charged with murder, he was remanded at prison for 7 months.