Email

Print

DCP Chester Williams
"They were in a van, the police pursued the van and eventually caught up with it, and the occupants quickly alighted the van and attempted to make good their escape. Police pursued the individuals during which the police officers fired shots and two of the individuals were caught in the lower part of their bodies. Those two individuals are two minors."

Reporter
"The mothers of the two minors are complaining that in fact these young men were shot and beaten up gratuitously after they had been detained. It was not in the process of them being detained. They were subdued and detained and then shot. One of them very unfortunately in the testicles. Would you comment on that."

DCP Chester Williams
"You see, Jules, this is why society is the way it is today, because we don't have parents out there who always try to justify the wrong of their kids or their children. I personally was on the scene and from my discussions with people who were in this area as well, the police shot at those persons while they were fleeing, not while they were on the ground. And I can tell you I was very quick on the scene and none of those individuals were beaten by the police. What these parents need to do is to try and counsel their children to ensure that they don't put themselves in this position again. Because at the end of the day the society is sick and tired of these young men going out there, robbing people who have worked so hard for what they have, for what they have."

Reporter
"One of the mothers provided pictures, he's a minor obviously. But, it shows that he has a burst lip, a burst head, the next one has a burst on top of his head. These are injuries from a beatdown, sir, you can't run away from that."

DCP Chester Williams
"If that is what she feels Jules, then she can go and lodge a complaint with the professional standards branch, and I will tell you, the circumstances of how the incident occurred, these young men they could have been killed by the police. But, fortunately and thank. But, fortunately, and thank God the police did not use that degree of force. So as far as I am concerned those parents do still have a lot to rejoice and to be happy over."

The mothers told us they would make complaints to the Professional Standards Branch. Both young men have various gunshot and blunt force injuries.

Today, the pair went to court along with 23 year old Harry Montero. This morning, Montero was arraigned before Senior Magistrate, Aretha Ford for a single offense of kept firearm and ammunition without a license. He pleaded not guilty but bail was denied and he was remanded.

And, this afternoon, the two minors, ages 17 and 16 were released from the hospital and brought over to the Belize City Magistrate's Court to be arraigned. They were also taken also before Senior Magistrate, Aretha Ford and although they are minors, because they are charged jointly along with an adult, the arraignment took place at the regular Magistrate's Court and not the Family Court.

Both could barely walk and had to be assisted up the stairs as they dragged themselves slowly into Court #2 to be read their charge of armed robbery.

They both pleaded not guilty and both had attorneys; the 17 year old minor was represented by Leeroy Banner while the 16-year-old was represented by Dickie Bradley. Due to their very obvious injuries, both attorneys asked for them to be granted bail. Senior Magistrate, Aretha Ford agreed and granted them bail of $3,000.

They were both able to meet that bail by 4:00 this evening but the 17-year-old was taken immediately back into custody after he met bail to be read an additional charge for handling stolen goods. Police say he was found in possession of a knapsack belonging to Harpy's Security.