The high profile drug trial of Police Superintendent David Chi, and Constable Norman Anthony along with two alleged Mexican drug runners, Eli Figueroa Nunez and Azarias Manzano started just before the new year in the Orange Walk Magistrate's Court.
All four were arrested in September of 2018 after a loaded drug plane was busted in Blue Creek.
The men are charged for conspiring to land the drug plane - not drug trafficking, per se. Conspiring is a summary offense which is tried before a Senior Magistrate.
The police officers have been out on bail for some time, while the Mexicans remain remanded because they are a flight risk.
After a December 30th adjournment, the case resumed today in Orange Walk before senior Magistrate Patricia Arana. Dickie Bradley represents the Mexican, Eli Figueroa Nunez. He spoke to CTV-3 today about the lengthy, 11 page police statement from a special branch officer which went before the court. It's one of 19 statements that the prosecution has put into evidence.
Richard "Dickie" Bradley, Attorney
"One of the police officers is the police officer for the Blue Creek Police Station. He is defended by Leroy Banner. In his case, he was seen driving a vehicle. This is what the witness was saying this morning. He was seen driving a vehicle heading in north, North West or something. There was a lot of things about the cardinal points. In any event and that is it, meaning like he spoke to him and he said I'm going to check on an information. Meaning somebody called and said that a plane was trying to land or a plane was circling or whatever. Now, how would you charge somebody because of that? I am sure that Mr. Banner will tackle that matter all out with both guns blazing and so on, but that is an example of some matters you would need to clearly have as a matter which is going to be contested, except for somebody who is saying something which is going to be a whole lot of legal arguments - the officer in charge of Orange Walk and so it goes. The 2 Mexicans who I was just clarifying a matter with them - the 2 Mexican who were put through a terrible ordeal. They supposedly were involved in the matter. I said supposedly, allegedly - the charge against them is one single charge - you conspired to abet to commit a crime. The actual courtroom testimonies have been slashed at least by half. So the trial will finish quicker. We were hoping to continue on Wednesday, but one of the attorneys is going to be unavoidably absent and then nest ween the prosecutor is also not able, because of official duties to come. When we come back, if God is willing, in 2 days' time we should be finish with the testimonies if the cross examination doesn't take long."
The hearing resumes on January 27th.
David Moralez represents former Superintendent David Chi, Leroy Banner represents Constable Norman Anthony, Bradley represents Nunez and the other Mexican is undefended.
It is being prosecuted by police prosecutor Alifa Elrington.
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