One week ago, we told you about 63 year-old British National Roger Wallis. He's the man who police have charged with 2 counts of attempted kidnapping of an 8 year-old boy in Belmopan.
Last Friday, he went before Justice Adolph Lucas to apply for Supreme Court bail. The crown counsel from the DPP's Office did not object, and trying to be extra careful, the judge adjourned the hearing until today, so that he could get a chance to review the police report, the affidavits, and the witness statements in this case. This afternoon, the bail application resumed, and now that he was properly informed, Justice Lucas invited Wallis' attorney, Hurl Hamilton, to finish presenting his case as to why Wallis deserves bail.
This time, the crown counsel representing the DPP's Office came armed with objections, and so Hamilton tried his best to convince the judge to free Wallis. At the end of the nearly 2 hour hearing, however, the judge refused the application. That means that Wallis will remain behind bars, but the judge has given strict timelines for the DPP's Office and the police to adhere to. If they fail to advance the this case meaningfully, Wallis will be allowed to reapply, and would most likely would be successful in getting bail.
Outside of court, we spoke with his attorney about today's failed application:
Hurl Hamilton, Attorney for Roger Wallis
"The submission that I have made is that first and foremost, the presumption of innocence must always prevail. You are innocent until proven guilty. The other submission that I've made was that the petitioner has substantial ties in Belize. What is the risk that the petitioner is going to abscond and not show up for his court date? The petitioner health issues. The petitioner is diabetic, he has a kidney problem. Those were substantially my submission to the court."
Reporter
"Unfortunately, you were not able to convince the judge. What's your take on that?"
Hurl Hamilton, Attorney for Roger Wallis
"Indeed. Well we disagree with the judge obviously, but we respect the judge decision. That's the judge decision. The judge was of the view that the petitioner Mr. Wallis is not a Belizean, he is a British national and the offence of kidnapping is a serious offence and he was of the view that bail should not be granted. Clearly, as I said we are disappointed. We disagreed, but we respect the judge's decision."
Reporter
"This particular case has caused different conversations; one of them being, why is it that a man who is being accused of trying to abduct children, even attempting to get bail. What would you say to those Belizeans who believe that he should remain in prison until the court absolves him if in deed he is innocent?"
Hurl Hamilton, Attorney for Roger Wallis
"Well as I said, the presumption of innocence is not only for Belizeans you know, it's for everybody, anyone who is brought before the courts of Belize. As it stands Mr. Roger Wallis is innocent, until proven guilty. I can understand that the public might have their own perception, their own views. But the law is the law in Belize: you are innocent until proven guilty."
As you heard, the judge had several reasons why he wasn't prepared to grant Wallis bail. The first is that he is a British National, and not a Belizean. He's here on a visitor's permit, which expired today and will need renewal. Next, the judge took into consideration that kidnapping is a serious offense, and that Wallis is being accused of attempting to abduct a minor, in plain view of his siblings. Finally, the judge said that although Wallis has property in Belize, he has incentives to abscond, and not attend court, since the offense he is charged with carries some serious penalties.
The police and the DPP's Office must ready to conduct the preliminary inquiry on or before December 17th. After that, Wallis must be indicted by the Supreme Court by the April 3rd, which would mean that his Supreme Court trial could be placed on the list of cases ready to be heard by next year. If the state fails to comply with these dates, then Wallis will be allowed to re-apply for bail.
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