Mother faces fitness hearing in court over alleged maim of son

Published by BBNTEAM at June 16, 2025

Posted: Monday, June 16, 2025. 4:06 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Natalie Palacio, a 45-year-old mother from Belize City, is scheduled for a fitness hearing next week as she stands accused of maiming her seven-year-old son. High Court Justice Candace Nanton has ordered the hearing to determine if Palacio is capable of understanding the court proceedings related to the serious charges against her.

Palacio appeared in the High Court without legal representation, accompanied by her mother. During the hearing, Justice Nanton informed the court that a psychiatric evaluation would be conducted to assess whether Palacio can comprehend the legal processes involved in her trial. The court has scheduled the fitness hearing for Tuesday, June 17.

The allegations against Palacio stem from an incident that occurred in Mahogany Heights Village on February 14, 2022. Reports indicate that during a visit to a neighbor’s house, Palacio allegedly caused significant injury to her son by striking him multiple times with a knife, notably injuring his left eye.

Statements from the child’s father, who was present at the time, revealed that the boy has since complained of ongoing pain and partial loss of vision in the affected eye. After the incident, the father sought medical attention for his son at the Belmopan Hospital due to his continued discomfort and vision issues.

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