Co-accused in murder of Monty Lipka deny involvement as murder trial winds down

By Aaron Humes: Co-accused Leon Walford, 37, of Belize City; and 25-year-old Tracey Betancourt of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize District, each denied they had anything to do with the murder of 49-year-old American businessman Lamont “Monty” Lipka nearly four years ago this month as their trial took place in the Supreme Court.

The Texas-born resident of San Pedro Town was shot multiple times inside the Tropicana Restaurant and Bar adjacent to the Central Park Hotel overlooking downtown San Pedro on May 13, 2018.

Walford, represented by Darrell Bradley, giving an unsworn statement, said he was not the shooter as he had never even been on Ambergris Caye before. He claimed that on the night of the incident he was in Belize City at his mother’s house, which she, in turn, corroborated as a witness, detailing where the co-accused was between 11:30 in the morning and nine at night.

Betancourt, represented by Anthony Sylvestre, testified from the witness stand, insisting that she did not know about the crime.

However, the Crown prosecutor Riis Cattouse introduced surveillance footage of the area before the murder on which he questioned Betancourt. She confirmed that it was her on the footage entering the Tropicana Restaurant and Bar located adjacent to the hotel.

But Betancourt, who works at a golf cart rental business, said a third video of a woman in a green blouse walking up the stairway at the hotel was not her, then suggested the footage was not clear enough for her to be sure.

She testified that she was invited to the hotel by a man she knew for a drink, but claimed she left upset after her date had “stood her up.”

Another video of a woman fitting Betancourt’s complexion, height and features showed that individual entering the same hotel the day before the murder was exhibited, but Betancourt also denied it was her.

She further denied knowing Walford, whom she said she saw for the first time at the police station after being detained in connection with Lipka’s murder. Walford is also allegedly captured on footage from the area at the time.

Betancourt is to call an alibi witness to appear on her behalf next week Monday.

The prosecution closed its case on Wednesday after calling several witnesses.

The primary witness, who testified via video link, admitted to keeping watch for the triggerman, and carrying and disposing of the alleged murder weapon after the incident. He claimed that he dropped Walford off at the site on a bicycle and was asked by Betancourt to go look for someone in a black hat at the restaurant. After identifying the target, allegedly Lipka, he informed the alleged shooter who accosted and fatally shot Lipka, then, on his and Betancourt’s alleged instructions, threw away the weapon in a boat yard.

The trial, before Supreme Court Justice Ricardo O’Neal Sandcroft, continues.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2022, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.