7 News Belize

Hugh Meighan’s Rights
posted (May 31, 2010)
Long time residents of Belize City will certainly know Hugh Meighan - called "Meegan" - a former night club owner and independent politician turned taxi-man. "Meegan" is now 69 but on Friday night he proved that he still had his late night wits about him when he fought off a car-jacker. He says it happened around the City Center at 10:25 after he dropped three females home from his post at The Princess and was heading back when a young man hopped into his car:...

Hugh Meighan, Taxi Driver
"This guy jump in my taxi and he say how much will you charge to take me behind the complex building? I said $6.00. He said, 'Ok take me there, pops.' I was going and chatting with him nicely. I took him all the way to the last street that leads to the highway. I got kind of worried because it was a very dark area. He said to stop right here pops. He then throws his hand around my neck and grabs me. He said 'pops I will not shoot you, all I want is your money and the car get out the car and go home to your family.' As he said that he leaned over and bit me on the cheek. When he bit me, I figured out that he did not have a gun, because if he did he would not have bitten me. I jump out of my car and push the door open and brace it with my knees. I always travel with my machete on my side of the car. I pick up the machete and chopped him on his hand with a lot of force. I then slap him in his face with the machete. He took off with the car, when he took off I said, 'Oh my God, he will mash up the car now.'"

He did mash up the car less than a mile away at Krooman Road, ripping off the bumper and damaging the fender which Meighan has already repaired. Police recovered the car and took Meighan to the hospital.

Hugh Meighan
"As we walk in the hospital I saw the guy sitting in front of the trauma room on a chair holding his hand, his face full of blood. I said to the officer, 'See the guy there that robbed me just a while ago.' The police stood up to him said, 'My friend you are under arrest.' The guy got up and run, as he ran I tripped him and he fell on the floor and hit his head. I pick him up and buck him with my head to make sure he didn't get away. My wife came in and asks me if that was the guy that robbed me, I told her yes and she put some licks on him as well."

Lionel Baiza was arraigned in court today. Looking a bit worse for wear. The 23 year old was remanded which is just fine by this 69 year old victim turned fearless self defender.

Hugh Meighan
"I will tell you the truth, Jules. Very few people in my country know about me. I lived in America for about 50 years; I was in the US Marines. I was well trained by them as a young boy. One thing I don't do is to get nervous when an incident arises. I was trained to keep focus and when he said he had a gun, I panicked, but when he bit me it sent a signal to me right away. I wasn't nervous, just worried if he was going to shoot me for real. When he bit me right away my mind says I want to see what he has. That's when I jump out and grab the machete that I had with me and I flagged him with it. The time we are living in is very dangerous, but I have to work to take care of my wife and my two kids. They will not intimidate me. I am 69 years old, but I still have a lot of juice in me."

In court today Lionel Baizar was accused of stealing one hundred dollars and a car form Meighan. He was charged with robbery, wounding - for biting Meighan on his cheek, and damage to property for crashing his car into a tree. Her pleaded not guilty but the prosecution objected to bail because the robbery of taxi drivers has become prevalent. Magistrate Sharon Frazer upheld the objection and remanded Baizar into custody until July 16th. Meighan says he strictly does not pick up young men at night but Baizar hopped in because his car was unlocked. He says from here on, he's locking all doors.

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