7 News Belize

Court Martial Sends Brit Soldier to Jail For Drunk Driving Death in Belize
posted (July 31, 2019)

British Army Sergeant Lee Humphreys, a 44-year-old British soldier has been found guilty of causing a death at a nightclub in Belize.  In September 2016, he knocked down and killed a man at Dream Like City Night Club.

As we reported a British Army court martial has been ongoing.  Well it is now concluded and it found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Back in 2016, Humphreys was stationed in Belize as a member of BATSUB. Details coming out of the Bulford Military Court is that Humphreys spent the night drinking at the Dream Like City Night Club".

Just after midnight on the night of the accident, Humphrey's jumped into his Ford F-150 to drive home. But, the Army driving instructor put the vehicle into the wrong gear, sending the vehicle lurching backward into 4 people who were eating at Sonia's Diner, nearby.

The 2-tonne truck injured 3 men, and ran over Salvadoran Jose Chinchilla  Molina, killing him.

The court found in a urine test, that he had 165 milligrams of alcohol in his system, while the legal limit is only 107.

So, he was driving under the influence of alcohol, and the judge presiding over the case is quoted as saying, "You are the only person who knows exactly what actually happened inside that vehicleâ€Â¦ Whatever the mechanism, the result was that your driving fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driverâ€Â¦ Even if your foot did slip from one pedal to the other, it was in circumstances where had you not been affected by alcohol you would have been aware of the risk and taken more care when maneuvering".

British press reports indicate that Humphreys, who has served in posts for the Army in different parts of the world, is a career soldier with a clean record, and that this incident was the very first time he was called before a tribunal.

Nevertheless, he was convicted and jailed for five years. He may be released on license after two years and six months.

Sources tell 7News that a settlement was made by the British Army with all the families involved in this accident.

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