{{short description|Belizean lawyer}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} '''Rodwell Roosevelt Adlai Williams''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=CBE}} (born 29 September 1956) is a Belizean lawyer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/dec/30/new-years-honours-list-commonwealth|title=New Year honours list: Commonwealth|work=The Guardian|date=30 December 2008|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="SanPedroDaily20090104">{{cite news|url=http://sanpedrodaily.com/1-4-09.html|title=Four Belizeans honored by Queen|work=San Pedro Daily|date=4 January 2009|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="StateDept">{{cite web|url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/belize/231771/PDFs/list-of-attorn40kb.pdf|title=List of Attorneys|publisher=Embassy of the United States|place=Belmopan City|accessdate=7 November 2012}}</ref> He is a name partner, along with Prime Minister of Belize and United Democratic Party leader Dean Barrow, in the Belize City law firm Barrow & Williams.
==Major cases== Williams began working for Michael Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft as a mortgage law expert in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://amandala.com.bz/news/laws-and-litigations/|title=Laws and litigations|work=Amandala|date=5 August 2011|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> In 2010, Williams successfully defended businessman Alfred Schakron against a lawsuit by politician Jose Coye alleging malicious prosecution; Coye was represented by Elson Kaseke.<ref name="Amandala20100305">{{cite news|url=http://amandala.com.bz/news/i-dont-believe-joe-justice-legall/|first=Adele|last=Ramos|title='I don't believe {{bracket|Joe}}': Justice Legall|work=Amandala|date=5 March 2010|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite court|url=http://www.belizelaw.org/supreme_court/judgements/Legall/COYE%20V.%20%20SCHAKRON.pdf|litigants=Jose Coye v Alfred Schakron|court=Supreme Court of Belize|date=10 March 2010|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> In 2011, Williams and Eamon Courtenay represented the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches and the Council of Churches in a joint effort with the Government of Belize to face off a constitutional challenge to Belize's sodomy laws by the United Belize Advocacy Movement, which was represented by Lisa Shoman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.amandala.com.bz/newsadmin/preview.php?id=11235|title=Belize churches join GOB in court battle against homosexuals|work=Amandala|date=22 May 2011|accessdate=28 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2012, he defended Elvin Penner against an election petition filed by losing candidate Orlando Habet, who was represented by ex-PM Said Musa.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/70365|title=The Penner petition still too close to call|work=News 5 Belize|date=14 May 2012|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref>
==Murder attempt== On the evening of 31 May 2010, Williams was shot while walking from his office to his vehicle. Williams and the office security guard exited the building together at about 7:20 pm; the two were walking along Albert Street East when they were approached by two men on bicycles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/33522|first=Marion|last=Ali|title=Rodwell Williams shot outside Barrow and Williams|work=News 5 Belize|date=1 June 2010|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> Both assailants alighted from their bicycles, and one tackled the security guard while the other pointed a firearm at Williams. Williams was shot in the abdomen, and was rushed to Belize Healthcare Partners for surgery to extract the bullet.<ref name="News720120227">{{cite news|url=http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=21866|title=Rodwell Williams Gives Emotional Testimony|work=7 News Belize|date=27 February 2012|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> Williams had already lost four litres of blood by the time he arrived for surgery, and had suffered damage to his duodenum, inferior vena cava, and large intestine. He received enormous blood transfusions to keep him alive, and by the end of his third surgery had bled an additional six litres. Surgeons stated that most people would not live beyond three minutes after being shot in that manner, but Williams was able to cling to life and survive surgery.<ref name="BelizeTimes20100603">{{cite news|url=http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/06/03/rodwell-williams-clinging-to-life/|title=Rodwell Williams Clinging to Life|work=Belize Times|date=3 June 2010|accessdate=28 October 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130116003609/http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/06/03/rodwell-williams-clinging-to-life/|archivedate=16 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Two men were charged with the attempted murder: Ricky Valencia and Akeem Thurton. While awaiting trial and out on bail, Valencia was again arrested on charges of handling stolen goods.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/62282|title=Another day in Court for Ricky Valencia|work=News 5 Belize|date=21 October 2011|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> Valencia and Thurton were the first suspects to be tried in the new "fast-track court" without the benefit of a jury.<ref name="News720120206">{{cite news|url=http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=21682|title=Rodwell Williams Alleged Shooter Will Be First To Be Tried Without Jury|work=7 News Belize|date=6 February 2012|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Taitt represented the Government of Belize.<ref name="News720120227"/> Valencia and Thurton came before the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on the charges in early February 2012, but the case was adjourned because both defendants were still trying to get lawyers.<ref name="News720120206"/> While awaiting the resumption of the trial, Valencia was shot dead on 22 February while driving on Caesar Ridge Road. Police suspected his death was related to a dispute over the proceeds of a bank robbery in which he was allegedly involved.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/67366|first=Isani|last=Cayetano|title=Accused in High Profile Crimes; Ricky Valencia Murdered|work=News 5 Belize|date=23 February 2012|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref>
Valencia's death left Thurton to stand trial alone for the attempt on Williams' life. It would be the first trial without jury in Belize. Thurton in the end was unable to obtain legal representation and appeared as a litigant in person. During the trial, he claimed that it was Valencia and not himself who had shot Williams; however, Williams refuted this.<ref name="News720120227"/> Justice Benjamin did not believe this either, and found Thurton guilty of the attempted murder. Thurton's sentence was announced on 30 March 2012: 15 years in prison. Benjamin stated that he had taken into account that Thurton had a family depending on his income as a fisherman, but also considered several aggravating factors such as his use of a firearm, and given the premeditation shown by lying in wait to ambush Williams the possibility that it was a murder for hire.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=22118|title=Sentencing For Man Who Shot Rodwell Williams|work=7 News Belize|date=30 March 2012|accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life and education== Williams was born in Belize City. He did his first degree in Economics at the Kingston, Jamaica campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), and then a LL.B. at UWI Barbados.<ref name="StateDept"/> He went on to complete a Legal Education Certificate at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, graduating in 1984.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111127/out/out3.html|first=Janet|last=Silvera|title=Celebrating Life at Iberostar|work=Jamaica Gleaner|date=27 November 2011|accessdate=18 October 2012}}</ref> He is married to Felice Williams.<ref name="BelizeTimes20100603"/> In the New Year Honours 2009 Rodwell was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.<ref name="SanPedroDaily20090104"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Rodwell}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Belizean lawyers Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Belize City Category:People associated with the Norman Manley Law School