When businessman Oscar Rosado Sr was killed in a Belize City robbery 4 years ago - it jolted a society that's largely become numb to crime.
The 75 year old was tending the counter at his well established hardware store near the Lord Ridge Cemetery when three men entered to buy a bag of three inch nails. But it quickly turned to robbery when one of them, Brandon Hughes, pointed a gun at his wife, Elena's face. That's when Rosado Sr, pushed the gunman and he then directed the gun to Rosado Sr, and fired a single, fatal shot to his forehead at point blank range. Hughes was charged for murder and faced a trial without jury along with his accomplice Jose Gomez.
Today, Justice Susan Lamb delivered a guilty verdict for murder - and no one was happier to hear that than Oscar Rosado Jr - who was a key eyewitness and who had to beg for his life after the gunman killed his father and then pointed the gun at him. Outside the courtroom, he said he is grateful for justice:
Oscar Rosado Jr., Victim's Son
"I feel good about the verdict. I can say God is an awesome God. I give thanks to God, I give thanks to the prosecutor, to the judge that he gave them wisdom and I say to all the people out there who say there is no justice, there is justice and the justice for my dad, I take it not only for him, for all those families who have not gotten justice. This is one justice that serves all of us. My dad was killed and because I serve a God that is alive, my dad lives and all I have to say to the criminals out there, think about what you are doing, because when you commit crimes like these, you are the ones that die. You killed your souls, so repent if you are out there, if you have done wrong and for those who are thinking of doing it, think of what you do to families."
The trial of Hughes and Gomez started in June and ended in July 2022. The crown was represented by Senior Crown Counsel, Sheneiza Smith from the DPP's office who called 10 witnesses.
Hughes and Gomez were represented by attorney Leeroy Banner.
