7 News Belize

Edwin Paula Claims Brutality
posted (June 27, 2013)
A month ago, 7News showed you the men charged for the La Choza Bar robbery which turned into murder, as they were arraigned in Belmopan Court.

29 year old Edwin Paula, 19 year old Manuel Hernandez, 18 year old Rudy Santos and Rasheed Crespo were arraigned and remanded on 3 counts of Robbery and 1 count of Murder, for the shooting death of Salvadoran Isabel Antonio Ballona.

Police also charged Paula with 2 counts of possession for an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

And in relation to the brazen invasion and armed assault on the UB Belmopan Dormitory, where the culprits robbed their victims at gun point of their valuables, all 4 men were additionally charged with 9 counts of aggravated burglary.

So, this is a very important case for Belmopan Police, and their commanding officer, Assistant Superintendent Sinquest Martinez, who has told the media that he's treating it with great care.

But, the family members of Edwin Paula have claimed police brutality, and they've brought what they claim as proof in the form of images taken of Paula's injuries after being beaten by police.

They spoke to us on Monday, in which they complained that police pinned these crimes on Paula. Here's how his mother explained it.

Martha Aleman - Mother of Accused
Translation:
I received a call saying my son was taken by the police.

'Miss Martha you have to go do something about your son because your son is being beaten badly by the police in the street. I don't know if he had been drinking or what but he looks badly beaten with his eyes swollen.'

'What?' I said. 'Do something, you have to do something' .but what do I do? I was told this was because of a robbery that happened at La Choza. But my son told me that I wasn't him, he has children and he doesn't know why he is being accused or why they are saying that is was him.

When I finally got to see him the next day. he was badly beaten all over but all over.

'What happened?' I asked him and he said 'nothing mama but his eyes were bruised and swollen. I went to see the Minister and he told me that he was going to open an investigation and he sent me to see another man who said - 'look there is a lot of proof that he was involved' and I said to him 'if there is proof then why did they beat him.'

Yesterday, 7News went to Belmopan to speak with Assistant Superintendent Sinquest Martinez in person, where he categorically denied that his officers indulged in any form of brutality against any of the 4 men now charged. He told us that it was baseless, and that he has specifically instructed his officers to handle the case with care.

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