Williams, 34, was the mother of 3 children

BELMOPAN, Cayo District, Wed. Mar. 27, 2019– Josue Ortiz, a resident of Belmopan who has been on remand for the murder of Bella Regina Williams, 34, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Supreme Court before Justice Antoinette Moore.

Mitigation pleas will be made on his behalf by his attorney, after which he will be sentenced.

Ortiz told the Supreme Court during his trial that on the night of July 24, 2016, he was socializing – dancing and drinking — at the La Cabana nightclub in Belmopan, along with a woman known to him as Gina.

After the club closed, he took Gina home and was attempting to persuade her to have sex with him, but she refused. He said that she attempted to run from him, but she slipped and fell, hitting her head.

Ortiz said that he panicked and hit her in the head with a rock, and then he rode away on his bicycle.

Neighbors of Williams told police that at about 3:30 that morning they heard a commotion and screams coming from Williams’ yard at #2 Zultana Street in Las Flores, Belmopan.

About four hours later, Williams’ 12-year-old daughter discovered the blood-soaked body of her mother lying face down at the entrance to her home.

Police investigations led to Josue Ortiz, then 19 years old. Williams’ sister-in-law told us that their family is struggling to put the pieces of their lives together. She said that Williams, who had three children, ages 12, 9, and 8, was a loving mother and caring person.

Information to us is that Ortiz was represented by attorney Oswald Twist, and Crown Counsel Javier Chan was the prosecutor.