Ellis ‘Juice’ Meighan committed to stand trial for 2024 Placencia murder of Roy Lee Burgess

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Ellis Gilbert Meighan, also known as “Juice,” has been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the 2024 murder of Roy Lee Burgess and the attempted murder of American national Maia James in Placencia.

Meighan, who turned 34 on September 5 while on remand, appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Friday for his Preliminary Inquiry. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the Chief Magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

He was committed to the October session of the High Court, which begins October 7, 2026.

During the Preliminary Inquiry, the prosecution tendered more than 35 witness statements along with numerous documentary and physical exhibits forming part of the case against Meighan.

Among those statements were three given to police by James following the April 14, 2024 shooting. The prosecution’s evidence also includes medical records, a post-mortem report on Burgess, photographs of the crime scene and autopsy, ballistic evidence, recovered projectiles and a firearms report.

Meighan did not provide the court with the names of any alibi witnesses he intends to call at trial. He was informed that he has seven days to submit those names in writing.

The charges stem from a shooting on April 14, 2024, along the Placencia Road, which left 32-year-old Burgess dead and James seriously injured. Contemporary reports said Burgess, James and Burgess’ 13-year-old son were inside a vehicle when gunfire erupted. James, then 26, suffered a gunshot injury to her face or head and was later taken abroad for medical treatment, while the child escaped unharmed.

Meighan subsequently left Belize and was apprehended by U.S. authorities in San Diego in May 2024. After spending more than a year in U.S. custody, he was deported to Belize on September 9, 2025 and arraigned three days later on charges including murder, attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm. He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

Earlier this year, Meighan was provided with 181 pages of disclosure and 22 original photographs forming part of the prosecution’s case.

Meighan has not been convicted of the offences. The prosecution will now be required to prove the charges against him when the matter proceeds to trial in the High Court.

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