7 News Belize

Meighan Family Alleges Continuing Police Abuse
posted (June 12, 2013)
The Meighan family of Banak Street in Belize City made headlines on March 6th, when the entire household was shipped off to the Hattieville prison – after the GSU claimed to have found two rounds of live 9mm ammunition in their home.

Because no one wanted to take ownership of the bullets, the entire family was imprisoned. Shelly Meighan, her daughter Shanice Meighan and her 17 year old son received bailed 3 weeks later – while her older son Ellis Meighan served out his 3 months on remand.

He was released from the Hattievielle prison on bail pending his following court date. But less than 24 hours later, the GSU was back at the Meighan's resident looking for him.

The family says that they are being constantly targeted by the GSU – and today, the women of the house Shelly Meighan made an angry plea to cease the harassment. She asked to appear off camera.

Voice of Shelly Meighan
"The officer asked me where Ellis was and I asked him why, he said he needed to see Ellis and I went off. I wanted to know why he wanted to see my son and he just came out of jail 24hours ago. This is something personal they have against my son and I needed to come on the media because this doesn't have anything to do with crime or the gang situation. I haven't seen GSU three months at my house, I'm at home every evening after three and no GSU has come around until yesterday when my son came out of jail. This is ridiculous this is why I am coming on the media so that they know what we're going through because the plan was for Ellis to plead guilty but I told him that we're not pleading because I knew that we didn't do that and he didn't want me to go to jail. I kept my mouth closed and I spent two weeks for that and I knew we weren't guilty of because I know 100% that my son hasn't put me through that before. For the first time they've ever been to my house to search it with a camera, they are violating our rights and they know we are innocent with that. 38 years I've never been to jail, never had a police record, never been charged or been to station only for my kids and do you know how I feel? They don't know what they put me through."

The Meighan's next court date will be on July 23rd.

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