_{Photo: Lincoln Diaz}

by Roy Davis (freelance writer)

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Dec. 19, 2024

Lincoln Diaz, 23, charged with the murder of Orin Velasquez, aka “Bredda O”, 38, a pizza seller of Ladyville, was found not guilty of the charge today by Justice Candace Nanton.

Velasquez, a popular businessman, was shot and killed on July 27, 2020, during a robbery of his pizza shop.

The main evidence of the Crown came from Velasquez’s son, Jaheem, who was at the shop at the time but managed to escape unhurt. Jaheem testified that robber #2, who was identified as Diaz, came into the shop, took the money bag and exited the shop before his father was shot. It was robber #1, who was referred to as “Coolie”, who was the shooter.

Jaheem said his father told robber #1 that they have the money, so they can leave; but then a struggle ensued between his father and the gunman, and his father was fatally shot in the neck.

Robber # 1 was never apprehended.

In her ruling, Justice Nanton said that there was no evidence that it was a case of joint enterprise.

Diaz gave the police a caution statement and notes of evidence in which he admitted that he participated in the robbery, but that it was Coolie who shot Velasquez.

A voire dire (a trial within a trial) was held to determine the admissibility of the statement and the notes of evidence which were not only taken in writing, but were also recorded electronically. At the end of the voire dire, Justice Nanton ruled that the statement is admissible, because there was no evidence that Diaz was coerced or promised any favor to make the statement and consent to giving the notes of evidence.

The Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Robert Lord, while Diaz was represented by attorney Lyndon Jones.

Diaz gave a statement from the dock in which he said the same thing he stated in the caution statement.