A week ago, 23 year-old Lyndon Baldwin was shot and killed at a home at the corner of Ebony Street and Youth for the Future Drive. Tonight, the men who police believe were responsible for his murder are at the Belize Central Prison.
They are 31 year-old Shawn Gibson, a labourer of Maxboro, 18 year-old Denver Bevans, 22 year-old Joshua Gillett, and a 17 year-old male minor. The cops think that Gibson was the gunman, and so he was charged with murder. Bevans, Gibson and the 17 year-old were charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
At today's police press briefing, the cops discussed what allowed them to crack the case, and bring criminal charges:
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
"Reference the shooting death of Lyndon Baldwin which occurred last week, on Saturday police arrested four persons; one being a minor. Shawn Gibson was arrested and charged for the crime of murder. He is a resident of Sand Hill Village. And two other persons were charged for conspiracy to commit murder along with the minor. The two other persons are Joshua Gillett and Denver Bevans and the minor."
Reporter
"Sir, could you explain to us how police were able to come to those charges given the fact that three others were charged for conspiracy?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, thanks to the assistance of the police camera in that area that we had footage that we were able to view and identify the persons that were involved."
Reporter
"Have you all been able to determine what led to that shooting sir?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes. And again it is a dispute among the two members of that area there; one from the magazine Road and one from the Conch Shell area."
All 4 men were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer today. She explained to them that no plea would be taken from there, and neither would they be eligible for Magistrate's Court bail. She remanded Gibson into custody until July 21st.
Of note is that, Herbert Panton the attorney for the 3 men accused of conspiracy to commit murder, was pressing the court to grant them bail. He told the court that the police have not produce evidence to substantiate the charge, other than the video surveillance footage.
Chief Magistrate Fraser agreed that the facts did not say much, but she said that it would not be her place at this time to make a determination. She, however, asked the prosecutor for a short adjournment, at which time, the police should be able to come up with more facts to support the charge, otherwise she will consider bail. The trio were then remanded until May 28.
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