30 year-old Keyon Cleland, an employee of CYDP residing on South Street was able to walk out of Magistrate's Court a free man today. That's because the sitting magistrate withdrew an aggravated assault charge which was brought against him by his ex, who claimed in court that she made the whole thing up.
It's unusual for a complainant has come to court and withdrawn saying that she made a malicious report.
That was the case today in the courtroom of Magistrate Dorothy Flowers when Cleland was called up to be arraigned.
The complainant who made the malicious report is 30 year-old Jacqueline Bermudez, a resident of Bocotora Street in Belize City.
According to her report which she gave to police, that Cleland committed an aggravated assault with a firearm against her.
As soon as Cleland gave his name, age and place of residents, Bermudez interjected into the proceedings that she wanted to withdraw the charge.
When Magistrate Flowers asked her if the defendant is related to her, she said, yes, that she was his boyfriend at one time.
When the Magistrate asked why it was that she made up the story, she said that it was because of another woman. She admitted that he didn't have any firearm, as she told the police, and that it was all untrue.
Well, as you can imagine, Magistrate Flowers was very much less than impressed because she not only could have jeopardized the freedom of an innocent man, she is wasting the court's time.
Magistrate Flowers reprimanded her by impressing upon her how serious the situation is, and afterwards, she discharged Cleland.
He walked out of court a free man, which would have been a very different outcome if Bermudez hadn't told the truth. He was looking at an automatic remand.
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