7 News Belize

The Other Side Of The Pitbull Controversy
posted (June 17, 2010)
On Tuesday we reported on the pitbull related death of 65 year old Edmund Spain. Spain worked as the caretaker of a residence in Tropical Park which belongs to his brother who lives in New York.

The pitbull attack which happened more than two weeks ago, was not reported to the media by the Police press office, and it was not until the relatives of Spain flew in from the states to arrange for his funeral, that police released information about the circumstances which surrounded his death. Spain was buried on Tuesday, and today his family stopped by our studios to say why his death should not go unpunished. Jim McFadzean has their side of the story.

Jim McFadzean, Reporting
The aggrieved family of the late Edmund Spain killed by two pitbulls says now that Spain has been laid to rest, its time for them to devote their energies at making sure those responsible for his death are held to account, and an important start must be that the dogs which killed Spain don't get an opportunity to kill another human being.

Bernard Moore, Brother of Edmund Spain
"Me and my brothers have decided that we are going to look for criminal charges against these family regardless of how far the case is going to go, that's what we are going to do and like I say the ultimate that I hope to come out of this is that the government is aware of these pit bulls, not only the pit bulls that bit my brother but also other pit bulls that I have seen roaming around Belize City plentiful. I've seen a lot of these youths riding around with these pit bulls on leash and these dogs are dangerous. Not even the owners of these dogs control these dogs because I understand that there is something on the brain of these pit bulls that snaps every now and then so hopefully in the long run the government do something about banning these pitbulls and hopefully is doesn't happen to anybody else again after it happen to my brother."

Moore says the nonchalant attitude on the part of the dog's owner demonstrates that he holds the dogs in greater esteem and value than his brother, Edmund Spain.

Bernard Moore
"I look at that young man. I saw him with his sunshade on and with his smirky attitude and his macho behaviour and I said to myself there is something wrong with this young man. If you are going to have two dogs that actually kill a man and you are talking like you are so concerned about your dog instead of concerning about my brother that s the thing that has me real upset."

Moore says any statements by the owners of the dogs that they have reached out to assist the family in any way is untrue.

Leon Lopez, Dogs Owner
"I am tragically sorry for what took place with him. But like I said it's beyond control but I would like to give sympathy out to the family that in whatever we could help and we already assist, we would like to do more."

Bernard Moore
"When I went to the police precinct the officer at the police station in Hattieville told me that this young man told him that I went back there with a confrontational attitude towards him which is a total lie, the next lie the young man told me - he informs me and my wife when we met him he said the dogs were shot by the police officer. He said that the bullet went through the dog by the police officer. The police officer said they shoot in the air and the dog ran away and now the third thing that this young man is saying is that they try to reach out to the family with some kind of financial aid, it's a total lie. I have spoken to him and the young lady and no talk like this came up and we were even kind of little surprise because nobody shows up at the funeral. Nobody even said well let me go and give the family a little card or a little condolence and now it seems like the young man in the media is telling a kind of lies."

Seven News spoke today with Joshua Trapp, the K-9 Instructor hired by Police to provide an evaluation of the dogs which will assist in their investigation. According to him, he has already submitted an official report to the police and the fate of the dogs is now in the hands of the police.

Bernard Moore
"I want to tell him that regardless of his ways and attitude I am going to pursue this case to the fullest extent of the law."

Reporting for Seven News, I'm Jim McFadzean.

Family members of Spain says they have not been contacted by the Police since the incident and are still trying to get any information they can on Edmund Spain's death. Seven News made several attempts to reach the Police Press officer for comment but up until news time, our calls and messages have gone unanswered.

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