7 News Belize

Who Put A Hit On The PM’s Law Partner?
posted (June 1, 2010)
Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams is clinging to life tonight at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami Florida after he was shot in an apparent execution attempt last night. In a crime climate where overstatement is the norm, there is simply no description for this crime: it is so brazen, so daring, so lawless, so without precedent that it has left the wealthy section of the Belize City community stunned to the point of stupefaction. Williams is known as one of the most successful and well regarded attorneys in Belize -practicing in mostly civil matters, not known as a barrister to defend controversial clients with underworld connections. But, regardless, someone wanted him dead and it is widely believed that they put out a hit on him. Last night at five minutes after eight two men carried it out in front of his office.

Here's what happened.

Jules Vasquez, Reporting
Police blocked off the street at the corner of Albert street and Ferrell's lane in front of Barrow And Williams last night while a scenes of crime team scoured the area for clues. Williams was walking with a security guard up the sidewalk the roughly 100 feet from his office door to his vehicle, this Range Rover which was parked in this tree-covered area. The attack came from the opposite side of the parking area. Two men one of them with a gun rode in through the side from Cockburn lane and accosted Williams and the guard right here at the grill entering the parking area. They searched the security to see if he had a weapon. He did not, and the gunman then very deliberately shot Williams in his midsection. They escaped into Cockburn lane. This is the bike they are believed to have used. It was left on Cockburn lane parked beside the ACC fence. The bike was labeled as evidence.

Police did not find any expended shells here where the shooting occurred. This area is where they washed the blood from the street. You can see how close it is to the vehicle - of course that is the proximity his shooters relied on - they presumably used the cover of the parking area to waylay the senior counsel.

Williams was taken to Belize Healthcare Partners where he was listed in critical condition with internal bleeding and injury to his major organs. Dozens of friends of the well and widely liked attorney including his long time law partner, the Prime Minister gathered while Williams underwent emergency surgery inside. The Prime Minister left after midnight when surgeons had to take a break because Williams' vital signs had become unstable during surgery. This morning the PM visited again and left for Belmopan after a few minutes inside. Press Officer for Healthcare Partners Collet Montejo gave us a briefing.

Collet Montejo, Press Officer for Healthcare Partners
"The family of Mr. Rodwell Williams had asked that we give the media a very brief statement. Basically there is a multi-disciplinary specialist team that is working with him, different specialists not just one specific specialty. He left the ward a few minutes ago. He is now in ICU, he is in a very critical and unstable condition and we anticipate that we will continue to work the best we can. The family is presently making preparations to fly him out to the United States."

Marion Ali, Reporter
"What were they faced with when they brought him here last night?"

Collet Montejo
"We've been asked not to respond to anything else but just to stick to the brief statement and so we have to stick to that for now."

Rhenae Nunez, Reporter
"Can you at least describe his injury."

Collet Montejo
"Again, he is in a critical, very critical and unstable condition."

Rhenae Nunez
"How many bullets wounds?"

Collet Montejo
"That I would think once we get everything setup we will be able to respond far more to your questions. We will be updating you guys a little later on this afternoon. But for right now that's all."

Rhenae Nunez
"How long did the doctors worked on him last night?"

Collet Montejo
"It was all night. It's been all night and up to this time that's why the doctors are not making a statement because they are all very busy still working on him."

Marion Ali
"Can you at least say what they have been successful doing so far?"

Collet Montejo
"Yes, they have been successful in stemming the bleeding and that's all I can say."

First, a few notes on his medical condition. At first, doctors were reportedly unable to stop or source the bleeding, but during a follow up procedure performed this morning, they were able to do that. This afternoon Williams was sufficiently stabilized to be flown out to Miami for treatment. At 3:20 with a cluster of close family and friends around, he was taken out of the hospital in a stretcher and loaded into a waiting BERT ambulance. From there, he was taken up to the Phillip Goldson International Airport, where a private jet was waiting to fly him to Miami. Escorted by his wife, Felice he departed shortly after 4:00. According to our sources, the gunshot damaged his internal organs and because of that his prognosis is very guarded. However, according to Health care partners public relations officer Collet Montejo this evening, his condition had become significantly more stable this afternoon and, he said quote "We think he'll live."

So Rodwell Williams is tonight fighting for his life - one of Belize's most eminent attorneys - the PM's law partner of twenty one years, a father of three girls - a man most would agree is untouchable. But last night, none of that mattered; he was shot at close range to the midsection; a kill shot, but somehow he survived, even as his hold on life is tenuous at this hour.

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