A protest has just started on Caye Caulker a short while ago. Family, friends, and residents will take to the streets to protest a controversial court ruling that acquitted a man accused of a brutal island murder.
On Monday, Juan Carlos Novelo walked free after being acquitted of the November 2023 murder of his common-law wife, Leslie Verde, a mother of three who was strangled to death. That decision triggered an immediate outpouring from Verde's family, who say the justice system has failed them. To make matters worse, the judge didn't even wait for them to arrive in the courtroom before she presented her "not guilty" verdict.
At 6:30 PM, that frustration turns into direct action as island residents will gather to vent their anger and frustration at the court and the presiding judge, Justice Candace Nanton.
Jaleeza Roberts is on Caye Caulker and has this report:
We'll have a full report on this in tomorrow's news.
