Juan Carlos Novelo acquitted of murdering common-law wife Leslie Verde

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Juan Carlos Novelo was found not guilty on Monday of the November 2023 murder of his common-law wife, Leslie Margarita Verde, in Caye Caulker. Justice Candace Nanton announced the verdict shortly before 2:40 p.m. on Monday, freeing Novelo of the murder charge. The judge said her reasons for the acquittal will be provided in a written decision at a later date. “It feels good because I never killed my common-law wife,” Novelo said after leaving court. “I just want to say to the family, from my heart, I never did what they think I did. I am so happy with this verdict.” Verde, a mother of two, was found motionless inside her home in the Bahia area of Caye Caulker during the early hours of November 4, 2023. She was taken to the Caye Caulker Health Clinic, where she was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination conducted by a doctor determined that Verde died from asphyxia caused by compression of the neck. He classified the death as a homicide, saying the injuries were not self-inflicted or accidental. The prosecution’s case relied largely on circumstantial evidence, including surveillance footage showing Novelo entering and leaving Verde’s home around the time of her death. Verde’s then-13-year-old daughter also testified that she awoke and saw Novelo shaking her mother’s motionless body. However, the child said she had been between sleeping and waking and later went back to sleep. Novelo’s attorney, Leeroy Banner, argued that there were no eyewitnesses or reliable evidence proving that his client killed Verde. The defence maintained that Verde was alive when Novelo left the home and urged the court to acquit him. The post Juan Carlos Novelo acquitted of murdering common-law wife Leslie Verde appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.