Paul Smith Junior Cleared of Murder Charge but Remains in Prison

Paul Smith Junior, who was on remand for over two years on a charge of murder, was cleared of that charge today, but he remains in prison. The twenty-year-old Belize City resident appeared in the Belize High Court today along with his attorney Ronelle Gonzalez. In court, Justice Derick Sylvester informed Smith that the crown had entered a nolle prosequi in his case, effectively dropping the charge related to the 2022 shooting Tyreak Dwight August in La Democracia Village. In a personal exchange in the courtroom, Justice Sylvester encouraged Smith to envision a positive future. When asked about his goals, Smith shared that he hopes to join the Belize Defence Force and become a positive role model for his younger sister and family. Outside the courtroom, attorney Gonzalez said that the exchange between Smith and Justice Sylvestre was encouraging. 

Tyreak Dwight August was fatally shot in La Democracia on April 7, 2022, at the age of 19.