Collin Francis, the 28-year-old man accused of putting a fatal beatdown on Nestor Vasquez Jr while they were both in police custody, is back at the Central Prison tonight. He was today arraigned for the murder of Nestor Vasquez.
As you saw last week, the Vasquez family believes that he ought to have been charged months ago, and the state dropped the ball when he was released on bail for an attempted murder charge last week Thursday.
At today's press briefing in Belmopan, we asked Assistant Police Commissioner Joseph Myvette about that criticism:
ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"On Saturday last, police have since arrested and charged Colin Francis, 29 years-old of Belize City address, for the crime of murder."
Reporter
"Sir, I know that the family has complained, why did it take so long. Can you offer an explanation?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"Well, what I can say is that the investigation was done, the evidence gathered, including the case file, was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for her to make a determination. That had just concluded, hence the reason why he was arrested on Saturday. Those directives were returned to the police on Friday."
Francis was arraigned on the charge today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. He was denied bail and remanded until January 7, 2020. His attorney, Dickie Bradley, has submitted that his mental state should be evaluated by a psychiatrist while he is in prison.
As we told you, on June 6th, 2019, 60-year-old Vasquez Jr. and Francis were both being held at the Queen Street police station in Belize City. The on-duty police officers took Vasquez out of a cell with minors - and placed him alone in the cell with Francis - who was being held pending a charge for stabbing a psychiatric nurse. At around 2:00, the officers were called to the cell where Vasquez had been attacked. When they responded, they found Vasquez unconscious and bleeding profusely from the face.
Vasquez was rushed to the KHMH, but two days later, he passed away from the injuries he suffered.
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