Ten years - that's how long attorney Oscar Selgado will be behind bars. His sentencing was handed down today at the Supreme Court. Selgado was found guilty of abetment to commit murder upon Marilyn Barnes.
Selgado has been remanded to prison since early March, and each time he made an appearance in court for his sentencing hearing, his attorney, Arthur Saldivar lamented his failing physical health.
Selgado has diabetes and his attorney argued that he wasn't receiving proper meals or meds in prison. Saldivar also noted Selgado's mortgage for the judge to consider when giving his ruling.
Still, Selgado will spend a decade in prison, and today his attorney explained that this is not the end, since they will be appealing.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"It marks the end of the first phase of Mr. Selgado's struggle to vindicate himself. Mr. Selgado is certainly committed in his belief that what has transpired was not in keeping with what was required legally and as a result of that has endeavored to appeal."
"So we are at that stage now where we are contemplating the appeal because there is certainly much to consider in terms of the process. That said, given what the learned justice has articulated, I think what is most appropriate for the public to consider is that he is making it clear from his belief and perspective that no one is above the law."
"I have no expectations. We fight, we advocate, and whatever comes, we deal with when it comes."
Reporter
"How do you feel about the fact that the judge did not consider that the health of your client should not have factored into his sentence?"
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"I don't know that he did not consider it. The mere fact that he mentions it is consideration. The weight that he gave to it may not have been what would have been expected. But again, he is guided by precedent."
"I do believe, however, ten years to be a bit excessive."
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, DPP
"Our courts dispensed justice, so I don't think anybody was expecting injustice today. We are pleased with the sentence and I think that the decision was well-reasoned."
Reporter
"He went above the precedent that has been set up six years."
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, DPP
"He is not bound by the precedent."
Reporter
"Are you happy that also the judge did not consider as a mitigating factor of his health condition?"
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, DPP
"Don't use words like happy."
"No, I think that we did cite cases to the court in our oral arguments, which suggested that while that would be a consideration, it could not have resulted in what was being asked for by the other side."
Oscar Selgado is the first attorney in Belize's judicial history to face such a sentence.
