Caye Caulker residents have recently proved they are willing to protest and stand up for their community, as they did when their police station property was being put up for sale.
But last night villagers came out to protest against the justice system for, they believe, setting a guilty man free, and also not dignifying the victim's family with the reasons for his acquittal.
Jaleeza Roberts reports:
The streets of Caye Caulker resounded with chants of "We Want Justice For Leslie Verde" as family members, friends, and residents marched through the island demanding answers following the acquittal of Juan Carlos Novelo, who had been charged with the November 2023 murder of his common-law wife, Leslie Verde. The protest came just days after Justice Candace Nanton found Novelo not guilty, with the court indicating that written reasons for the decision will be provided at a later date. We spoke to Leslie's sister who said that they are still unsure why he was acquitted:
Heidi Lopez, Sister of Leslie Verde
"We want to get the written from the judge, you know, to find out the reason, the conclusion why she found this man not guilty. And I feel like they just did the verdict and they didn't even wait for us, and like I just, we feel down, we feel very disappointed and we want justice for her."
"Everything that came to the court like with the evidence they had, they had video footage, they have the doctors what he said that she was murdered and all how they found her. The thing is that they brought all those evidence."
"When I heard the verdict, I believe and I know deep in my heart this man is guilty. You know, where we live is like a dead end. There's no more streets, there's no more anything. There's just one street to get to that house and everything to me accused this man."
The emotional toll of the case was perhaps most evident in the voices of Leslie's children. With permission from the family and requests made by the children to speak, this is what they had to say:
Omar Chuc, Son of Deceased
"I just want to say that we need justice for my mom and because this was not a fair case to myself and then I love my mom so much."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"How did you feel when this happened to your mom some years ago?"
Omar Chuc, Son of Deceased
"I feel devastated because I wasn't there for her."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"What has life been like without your mom?"
Omar Chuc, Son of Deceased
"Hard."
"I was crying for her and like I didn't have a mom to stand beside when stuff happened and thing."
Alexia Chuc, Daughter of Deceased
"I remember she was a kind, loving person, hardworking, dependent woman."
"I feel broken because like she raised me up as small and my dad too, but it really hurt because when I go to school, when I come out I got no one like you know, when I like do good stuff I can't go to her like I used to do so it really hurt me so much."
Her niece, Riannie Verde, who discovered Leslie's body in 2023, said the acquittal reopened emotional wounds:
Riannie Verde, Niece of Leslie Verde
"I found my aunt and it was very hard for me growing up because Leslie was like a mom to me just like how Heidi Reyes is a mom to me. I didn't grow up with a mom so it's very hard and it was just so many emotions in me that I couldn't really control."
"It disappoints me to see this because he shouldn't have been let out, we don't deserve this as a family."
Leslie's brother Edwardo Arceo also criticized the justice system, saying the case should concern every Belizean. He said the family's burden has extended far beyond the courtroom, as relatives have had to step in to raise his sister's children:
Edwardo Arceo, Brother of Leslie Verde
"I have evidence on a WhatsApp that she said she was fighting him hard because of jealousness that he believed she was with somebody else on that night, and I was the person who she was with, I'm the oldest brother."
"The justice system is failing us as Belizeans. This can happen to you, it can happen to anybody and we don't have justice."
"I feel so bad bout what happened, but it's more about the kids that she left behind and the family has to work hand in hand to keep these three children growing up, going to school, feeding them. It's a burden on the family and we are bearing with it on a daily basis."
"It affects them mentally, physically and financially because she was there for these kids. When she collect she take them out, she spend time with them, she make sure they eat on time. It's nothing that can replace a mother."
Also joining the march was Caye Caulker Chairperson Seleny Villanueva-Pott, who remembered Leslie as a beloved community member. She thought it would be an open and shut case:
Seleny Villanueva-Pott, Caye Caulker Chairperson
"Leslie grew up here, she went to primary school here, she was an integral part of the community, she was a well-known waitress across Caye Caulker."
"We thought that this would have been an easy case where we would have gotten justice, but that was not the case."
"We would hope that the family is given enough time to appeal, then the family would be able to get justice, that's what we want."
"We're a small close-knit community and I'm very happy to note that the support is still there."
As the family continues to mourn Leslie Verde's death, the message was clear, they want justice and they want it now. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Of course, that can only come through an appeal initiated by the DPP-and no decision on that can be made until the trial judge gives the reasons for her decision.
Only the DPP can appeal a murder acquittal, so will she? We contacted her and she said, "I think it's best to await the written decision of the trial judge before I comment."
