Owen Tucker was a Belizean American who had come home to retire and invest the money he had earned in the US. In 2022, the 66 year old bought Crocland - a nature park on the Phillip Goldson highway that he planned to re-open to the public.
But, all his dreams were smashed when he was brutally murdered - allegedly by his former employee and Chief of Security, Jerome Crawford.
Crawford was convicted today by Justice Derick Sylvester. Crawford told the court that he wasn't even in the area when it happened. But, the judge concluded that he was lying - based on the evidence from key witnesses, one of whom saw him shoot Tucker and helped him to clean up the bloody scene. There was also forensic evidence where the murder weapon was found in Crawford's home.
The judge also had to rely on DNA evidence to identify Tucker's charred remains which Crawford burnt after the murder.
All that led to a guilty verdict - the reasons for which were outlined in a 35 page judgement handed down this morning.
Tucker's family - including his 86 year old mother still lives in the US, but his sister came to witness the trial. After the guilty verdict was issued - she spoke to our court reporter:
Marina Tucker, Sister of Murder Victim
"First of all, I just want to say thanks to the Belize Police Department, the Office of the DPP for doing an awesome job. The family is at ease knowing that he's been charged for the murder."
Reporter
"They found the shells at the scene and they found the gun at Mr. Crawford's home and Mr. Crawford insists that it wasn't him."
Marina Tucker, Sister of Murder Victim
"It just showed that what he did, he has no remorse. Our family forgives him. We cannot hold bitterness in our hearts. And his family has no...We don't hold anything against his children, his family. It's him who did the crime."
"Owen is a born Belizean. He left Belize at the age of 17, a bright student with a scholarship. So he went abroad, worked hard in the US, lived his life, came back, I think at the age of 64, to invest in this country and his people."
"He has given a lot to his alma mater, Wesley College."
Sentencing has been set for Monday June 17th.
Notably, at the start of the murder trial a week ago, Crawford indicated to the court that he wanted to plead guilty to the lesser charge and asked for a sentencing indication. But after hearing that he would get between 20-40 years imprisonment, he rejected the sentence and chose to proceed to trial.
He was defended by Ian Gray and Riis cathouse was the prosecutor.
