Jason Lawrence, 33, a driver of the Japan area of Ladyville, appeared in the #1 Magistrate’s Court this morning before Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie, who arraigned him on one count of murder.
Lawrence is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Mercedes Rosita Carrillo, 40, which occurred on Friday, November 4, in the early morning hours at her home in the village of Burrell Boom.
While Lawrence was being arraigned on the murder charge, the Chief Magistrate explained to him that no plea would be taken from him, because the offence for which he is charged is an indictable one. She also informed him that at a given date an inquiry will be held, and if there is enough evidence against him, then his case will go to trial at the Supreme Court before a judge and jury.
But Lawrence interrupted Gabb-McKenzie, and in a calm, measured voice, he told her that he wanted to request a speedy trial from the court. He said: “I already gave police a statement. I am very guilty for what I’ve done. I know I cannot go unpunished.”
The Chief Magistrate then told him that it was not up to her court to grant him a speedy trial.
“The police have to do their investigation,” she told him.
According to police, they were called out sometime around 1:00 a.m. to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where they found Mercedes Carrillo suffering from stab wounds to the left side of her abdomen and under her left breast.
Carrillo died while undergoing treatment.
Police reported that their initial investigation revealed that Carrillo was at her home in Burrell Boom, along with her children, when her boyfriend, Jason Lawrence, went to see her.
While at the house, Lawrence and Carrillo reportedly got into an altercation. Lawrence left, but he later returned, armed with a knife, and forced his way into Carrillo’s house. Police say that he stabbed Carrillo twice.
Police also reported that one of Carrillo’s daughters, in defense of her mother, stabbed Lawrence on his shoulder.
Jason Lawrence was remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until his next court appearance on January 7, 2010.