Defense Challenges Case Against Oscar Selgado: High Court Hearing Raises Questions

Attorney Adolph Lucas Senior is trying to get the charge against his client, Oscar Selgado, thrown out by the High Court of Belize. Selgado is charged with abetment to commit murder, but today Lucas filed a no-case submission before Justice Nigel Pilgrim. Lucas’ submission was on the grounds that his client did not have a case to answer to, as the evidence presented by the prosecution was vague and inconsistent. Lucas said that the Crown had failed to produce the recordings of Giovanni Ramirez which were said to contain information about the alleged plot to murder Marilyn Barnes. Lucas went on to say there were inconsistencies in the testimony of former police inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino. He added that Ferrufino’s identification of Selgado based on the alleged recordings was questionable. Lucas also submitted that the testimonies of Ferrufino and Police Commissioner Chester Williams about the content of the recordings did not amount to secondary evidence. Justice Pilgrim adjourned the matter for February 1, when the Director of Public Prosecutions will be given the opportunity to respond.