Nine years after the death of 24-year old Leroy Pilgrim, Police Constable Burton Caliz, 30, has been fined for the charge of manslaughter by negligence.
Pilgrim was fatally shot in the back of the head in February 2004 as a result of a struggle with Caliz. Caliz remained on interjection, when he was initially charged for manslaughter. The charge was upgraded to murder in 2007, and Caliz was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison. That sentence was overturned during an appeal trial in 2008.
The retrial for the first verdict commenced on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 where Caliz was found guilty of manslaughter by negligence. His sentencing hearing was held on Friday, October 18th before Justice Troadio Gonzalez, who fined Caliz$3,000.ordering that he pay by January 24, 2014.
Justice Gonzalez suggested that Caliz be reinstated as a police constable in the Belize Police Department.
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