Email

Print

“I am guilty and I want a speedy trial.” Those were sentiments expressed by thirty three year old Jason Lawrence, a truck driver of Ladyville who is charged with murder after he fatally stabbed his forty year old girlfriend Mercedes Carillo. Court reports are that when the accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie in number one Magistrate’s Court she had not yet read the charges when Jason Lawrence said he gave the police a caution statement and he knows that he is guilty and he wants a speedy trial.

Chief Magistrate McKenzie explained to the accused that he cannot get a speedy trial because there is a procedure to follow. She also explained to him that no plea will be taken from him the court cannot offer him bail because of the nature of the offence. Jason Lawrence was then remanded to Belize Central Prison until January seventh, 2010.

Mercedes Carillo was stabbed around one on Friday morning inside her residence in Burrell Boom. As the mother was being stabbed, her children watched and tried desperately to save her but to no avail. One did manage to stab Jason Lawrence in his shoulder. Police investigation revealed that Mercedes Carillo, a former nurse was at home with her three children when Jason Lawrence came and an argument started between the two of them.

Investigation reveals that Jason Lawrence left the residence but he returned shortly afterwards with a knife which he used to stab Mercedes Carillo in the left side of the abdomen and lefts side of her breast. Mercedes Carillo’s nineteen year old daughter intervened and took away the knife from Jason Lawrence which she used to stab him in his shoulder. Jason Lawrence then fled the house. Mercedes Carillo was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but died on her arrival at the KHMH.