2 Years Later, No Justice For WPC Who Was Sexually Assaulted By Fellow Cop

For the past two years, Luanna Gillett has been living a nightmare - she was sexually assaulted by a fellow cop, forced to give up her career, and now she still can't get justice.
Gillet was a constable at the San Ignacio police station when she was groped by former Corporal Durman Dawson. It was caught on camera and released for the world to see. But Gillett stayed the course and was adamant about having her day in court. But that day hasn't come yet.
For two years, she's been back and forth, patiently waiting to put this behind her, but being forced to relive the trauma again and again. It's affected her job, her mental health, and even her home life as a mother of 3 with a husband.

But after another adjournment yesterday, she's fed up and decided to tell her story to the nation. And she chose this date - two years from the video of her assault first went viral. Courtney Menzies spoke with Gillett today in Belmopan:

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"It's ridiculous, it's ridiculous, they can't make it make sense to me. And that's what I asked them, please make it make sense what you're doing."

That's how former police constable Luanna Gillett feels after she's been given the run around by the justice system. Gillett was assaulted on February 14, 2024 at her workplace - the San Ignacio police station - by a male officer - and it was captured on surveillance video. She says that was the start of a nightmare that she can't seem to wake up from.

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"I don't even feel Valentine's Day anymore, I don't celebrate that day, moreover that we're in Women's Month, I don't even celebrate Women's Month for that matter because I was assaulted inside the San Ignacio Police Station by one of my colleague. He wasn't just my colleague, he was my squad brother, we did training together, ever since we passed out from training academy, we worked together, I served ten years in the police department, and ever since the incident, it has just been a nightmare."

Reporter
"Why is this day significant to you?"

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"This day broke me. One, the main reason why the day broke me, the 4th of March, was the day that they aired, I don't know how, they aired the video of the incident on social media. And this day also marked the day my mother passed away. We were at the burying ground visiting my mom when I got a phone call telling me that the video with my incident was all over the media. I froze. Because I took out my phone and I went and I saw it and I froze."

And to add insult to injury, after the incident, Gillett had to give up the career she built up for the last decade.

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"I had to make the toughest decision in my life and give up my career. I couldn't endure anymore, I couldn't deal with the torture, the torment, the re-victimization, the sulky attitude, the disrespect, like I would walk in the station, say morning, after the incident, nobody answered me, they just watch me like I'm crazy."

"I had to make the decision, it was either my happiness, my kids' happiness or the job. I asked for a departmental transfer. I got my departmental transfer. When I got it, I was posted at Ministry of Home Affairs. In June last year, the CEO rotated me, gave me a slap in the face and placed me at the Belize Police Department headquarters to work. So it is like it undid all my efforts to try to recover and build back myself, putting me to work there."

And even after enduring all that, she is now facing what she calls re-victimization by the courts. She explained that she does not get information about her cases, she is never summoned in person, and even when the matter is in the courtroom, it is repeatedly adjourned, pushing the trial's start date to over two years later. This victim believes the system is trying to protect the accused, former corporal Durman Dawson.

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"They give him special preference when he goes to court. I mean I know a lot of senior officers at the courts probably don't know those things are happening and I hope that by seeing this, they can address it so that it doesn't happen to other people. What saddens my heart is if it could happen to me who was a serving member of the Belize Police Department, it could happen to any other civilian."

"Apparently they charged the young man the 20th February, and adjournment start. 28th of February 2024 adjournment started and I knew nothing about those adjournments."

"The 13th of January 2025 an adjournment came up, I didn't get any summons, I didn't know anything. I got to know about the summons through one of the witnesses. They sent me the summons and said I just got summoned for your case. I'm like how did you get summoned for my case and I didn't?"

"When I went, it's like they saw a ghost when I popped up in their persecution office and told them, morning, I came to check on my case. Oh what a coincidence, your case is Monday, for adjournment the 13th of January."

"They adjourned it to the 10th of November for trial, they sent me a summons through WhatsApp, I showed up at court, his attorney asked for an adjournment because he hadn't gone through the disclosure, XYZ, cow fat and horse dead. Final adjournment 26th of February set for trial."

She believed this would be the start of a new chapter - that she would finally get justice and would be able to heal. But she was let down once again.

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"Thursday came, I talked to one of the witnesses and I said, aren't you going upstairs? She said, no, they told me from yesterday no court tomorrow because no magistrate. So I said what, but how did they call you and they didn't call me and tell me anything?"

"What beats it is that this defendant is on magistrate court bail."

"In any other circumstance... a bench warrant would be set out for that defendant and that defendant's bail would be revoked or he would have to go to explain to the magistrate why a bench warrant should be set for him or why he was absent but that's just to show and that's just for people to see the kind of immunity, the kind of powers, the kind of protection he believes or he thinks he has from the San Ignacio police formation."

"Now adjourned to yesterday the 3rd of March. I showed up, he showed up, but please let's not forget from the time this thing was set for trial, coming, coming, coming, coming I asked who will prosecute? I asked everybody, nobody can't answer me who will prosecute."

"Then like minutes to 12 the magistrate addressed the matter. The prosecutor asked about the defendant's counsel so they got that the counselor had asked for an adjournment because he got notified late. How will you get notified late? Of course you'll get notified late because the defendant wasn't at court last week Thursday."

"We broke, the magistrate told him to get in contact with his attorney because the trial will be set for 1:00. We went for lunch, came back, 1:00 he didn't reach. Magistrate said he would give him 10 minutes grace period for him to reach. When he reached 1:15 he did not even have the audacity to apologize to the court for being late. That's the kind of ego he has. The magistrate asked him where his attorney is, he told him he's on his way, he doesn't know where he is. From there he confirmed that the attorney is at Rockville."

"So the magistrate said that he has to adjourn the case. That was like someone pushed their hand in my chest and ripped out my heart when the magistrate made mention of that. Oh because it's not the defendant's fault that the attorney isn't there and they have to serve justice for the defendant too and everything has to be balanced."

"My thing is, she mentioned something that stuck with me, that's bothering me. I didn't sleep last night because this is bothering me. You're telling me you need to serve justice on behalf of the defendant so who's serving justice for me the victim? Who is serving justice for me? I'm the victim. Normally it's the victim that get's served justice. So who is serving justice for me?"

And now Gillett has to wait until May 7th and hope that her case will finally be heard. But despite all the hardships, she says she won't give up and she encourages any facing a similar circumstances to do the same.

Luanna Gillett, Sexual Assault Victim
"And I want to say to any female, it doesn't have to be from the police department, it could be anywhere you are and you get assaulted in any way, don't be afraid to stand up against your attacker. No matter if they're man, woman, no matter who it is, nobody is stronger than God and nobody is stronger than your mind."

Gillett told us that while she hasn't received support from the department, she has gotten it from the National Women's Commission, who were unaware that she had yet to get justice in the courtroom.

We did attempt to get a comment from the accused Durman Dawson - who has been dismissed from the police department - but up to news time, he had not responded.

We also reached out to the Commissioner of Police for comment - but, up to news time, no response.

Man Accused Of Desecrating Grave Sent For Psychiatric Report

A mentally ill man, accused of breaking into a tomb and tampering with the body of a 63 year old Hattieville woman, appeared in court today on two criminal charges. He is 33 year old Jonathan Abner Flores. He was taken before a senior magistrate unrepresented this morning and was read the charge of harm of a dead body, and disinterment of a body. No plea could be taken from Flores because the court ordered that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Flores was offered bail but his relatives told the magistrate that it would be best if he was remanded for his own safety.
He was offered bail of $1,500 and his case was adjourned for May 4, 2026. He was taken to the Belize central prison.

We spoke to a family member of the deceased woman whose grave was desecrated and he said they just want to put the whole thing behind them.

Nicaraguan Man Charged For Cowpen Murder

Police have arrested and charged a Nicaraguan man for the murder of Elias Bejerano that occured on Sunday in Cowpen village. Bejerano died was attacked by a man brandishing a machete, and police say that was 37-year-old Raul Sergio Flores. Flores was formally arrested and charged for murder.

Kaylen Shot Inside His Apartment On Faber's Road

Belize City police are investigating an attempted murder after a construction worker was shot while inside his apartment last night. Around 9:55 police received reports of a shooting at the Bingo King Apartments on Faber's Road Extension.
Police went to the hospital where they found 23-year-old Kaylen Thompson, suffering from gunshot injuries to the body.
Police learned that around 9:45, Thompson and his common-law wife, 29-year-old Andra Diaz, were inside their room with the door closed when an unknown person fired several shots through the door, injuring Thompson.
The shooter then fled in an unknown direction. The scene was processed and photographed by Scenes of Crime technician Daniel Daniels, where several expended shell casings were recovered.

Police say the motive for the shooting remains unknown.

MIDH Clears The Way For You To Watch The End Of La Ruta Maya Without A Cover Charge

The battle over the location of the finish line for the La Ruta Maya race continues, and today it took another when prices to view the ending were publicized.
Now, in the past this was all free, but now there's a cover charge - or a table charge if you want to go top shelf.

But tonight the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing has cleared a path where the public can watch it for free. Jaleeza Roberts went over to the Haulover today and has this report:

This morning, just after 7am, a flyer hit social media from Grand Resort and Residences that depicted the "VIP Viewing" of the Belikin La Ruta Maya Race 2026. Fees included $75 per person and $600 VIP tables for 7 guests.

Belizeans saw that and ran with it. In the uproar, the morning show hosts on Love FM's morning show including the Owner Rene Villanueva Sr. cleared the air explaining that the fee would be $10 and they would be at the Haulover Plaza at the Grand Resort in an attempt to distance themselves from the steep prices that caused a social media uproar.

Well this morning after seeing that VIP flyer, MIDH stepped in, deployed have equipment like a bulldozer, dumptrucks, a grader and a front end loader and they started clearing public spaces on both north and south sides of the Haulover bridge where the public can park and gather without paying any fee. The Chief Engineer explained why they moved:

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
"Well, as a ministry, we are trying to see how best we could present that as well to the general public because it's a race for all Belizeans. And so we have that space that is available, as I've mentioned, and we're expecting to develop that era into our park. And so we saw the need for us to go in and try and see how best we could help our own citizens to have a better view of the race as well, free of cost. And so we thought it was a good thing that we were doing as a ministry to extend that to the general public because that area that we have there is a public space anyway."

For years, when the race ended at the Belcan, it was free of charge to the public. Moreover, the Chief Engineer said that this is a yearly routine and a part of the ministry's contribution to the race, to add greater infrastructural value and safety. The only request is that with the free use, that everyone cleans up after themselves to keep it clean.

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
"Based on what we have seen on the north side, we have approximately three acres there from where the old highway was towards the roundabout. And on the north side, I think we have approximately about 2.5 acres there. And so it's a wide space along the bank that could accommodate a number of persons. I would say maybe up to a thousand persons can be a comfortable fit on both sides of the bank. Based on what we have seen on the north side, we have approximately three acres there from where the old highway was towards the roundabout. And on the north side, I think we have approximately about 2.5 acres there. And so it's a wide space along the bank that could accommodate a number of persons. I would say maybe up to a thousand persons can be a comfortable fit on both sides of the bank.type of country we have, attracting tourists and so forth. And so we want to make sure that whatever spectators visit that site, that it remains clean."

For now, Belizeans can be at ease knowing that there are many viewing options for the end of this year's race, from free to $600 peer table. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.

The Ministry of Development Housing is also a sponsor of the race.

MIDH Warns Of Strong Currents At Haulover Waterway

And, as we have reported The race will be ending at the Haulover bridge and a major concern raised by the paddlers was about safety because of the strong cross currents. Well, the chief engineer has confirmed that during the construction, they did experience a strong current in the area:

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
"It's a new structure. And so from our perspective, yes, the bridge is very safe for it to accommodate vehicular traffic. and also the pedestrians that will be situated on top of the structure. In terms of the waterway, I can't speak too much about that. I know that the waterway during our construction has a strong current within that area, but that is something outside my purview and I cannot say and speak on the safety aspect of that. I could only speak on the structure itself, but for the structure itself, it's a safe bridge for them to congregate and watch the finish of the race from that."

Additionally, when the race ends at the Belcan, the MIDH cleans the channel to make it easier for paddlers.

This year, they put that cleaning on pause when they learned that the race would end at Haulover.

So if the Canoe Association will still be paddling to Belcan in their act of protest, the Chief engineer says there are risks:

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
"Typically we are asked to clean that channel from the Belize river going through towards Chetumal Street Bridge because of the fallen debris from trees and branches that are within the creek. We had started those works as I've mentioned, but because we were informed that the race will no longer end at the Belcan Bridge, we diverted those funds to do other activities that are necessary for us to implement. as a ministry. And some of those same funds are now being utilized to improve the banks near the section that we have discussed previously."

Reporter
"So would it pose as a quote unquote threat, one would say, if the paddlers would continue going to the Belcan, being that the channel was not cleared up properly?"

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH
"That is possible. That is possible because we did not complete that task. So that is definitely possible. But I'm not sure why they would go there. The race is going to be finishing at the new Haulover Bridge."

The race is set to start on Friday at 7am.

Belize's Best Young Talents Showcased

Cheers echoed through the Bliss Centre this morning as Belize District students braved the spotlight for the annual Festival of the Arts.

As many as 45 items were presented for the judges, varying from song and dance to poetry and drama. Jomarie Lanza was there:

However you choose to conquer the stage at the Bliss, be it dance, or even a bit of drama, when the festival of arts rolls around each year that's when we really get a chance to see the talent that lies within every school, where the kids spend months preparing their pupils for the spotlight. This year they started off strong with the secondary institutions and they did not hold back their energy at all this morning.

Kim Vasquez, Director of ICA
"This is the start of festival of arts 2026 starting today with the Belize district secondary festival of arts underway. They have an impressive amount of entries I believe over 45, close to 45 entries so today will be a full showcase morning and afternoon and we are just always so appreciative of the partnership between ICA NICH and the ministry of education and also the work of the teachers because they are the ones really working especially at the secondary level where students tend to have more of an involvement in what they bring to the stage in their own submissions but they still get that support from their teachers from their schools that is so sensual to keeping the festival of arts alive."

They show and judges will be moving from district to district, picking the best performances to complete their grand and final showcase. Kim Vasquez director of the institute of creative arts says that it's a golden showcase you won't want to miss.

Kim Vasquez, Director of ICA
"So what is going to happen is that we go at the district level so right now these are the district festival of arts that are happening and we are going to work our way through secondary, tomorrow we will be in Cayo and so forth and so forth and then we have as I said in May, early May we have the primary school festival of arts, the pre school festival of arts at the end of all of that we are looking at having a really compact and dynamic national golden showcase this year, we have some things in the pipeline that we are shaking up, one of the things we want to do this year is put the return of the district level golden showcases in the evenings. This is significant because we have been doing consultations across the country and one of the things that would frequently come up would be communities telling us why did we lose this feature because each district will have its own golden showcase and it would be an evening event where parents, students and the communities could come out and support so we are hoping to have this return this year starting for the primary and the preschool festival of arts and then we would advance here with a national golden showcase once that is complete."

Jomarie Lanza

The preschool Festival will be held in a few months.

Belize City Will Get Two New Bridges, Mayor Says Great Investment Will Require Great Sacrifice

The Belize City Council held a Town Hall meeting last night to discuss major upcoming infrastructure projects including the replacement of the Swing Bridge and the Belcan Bridge.

And while the new bridges will bring a sense of renewal to the city, before all the presentations on how these upgrades will add value to the city, the mayor stressed the level of sacrifice the city residents will need to bear:

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"Disruption often serves as a springboard for new opportunities, for new innovation. It serves as a catalyst of change, forcing us to move beyond broken models and through intentional action embrace new creative solutions that redefine market standards. Many of our daily lives will be disrupted in the days, in the months and the years ahead. Morning routes, evening routines, the school drop off, the busiest deliveries, pedestrian crossings, traffic patterns we have grown accustomed to will change."

"Belize City is growing. Belize City is evolving. And Belize City must modernize its infrastructure to meet the demands of today and the demands of tomorrow. Yes, folks, this is a sacrifice, but it is one we must make together for the betterment of our city, for improved safety, for economic resilience, and for future generations. Let us approach this moment Not with frustration, but with unity. Not with division, but with cooperation. Not with fear, but with preparation."

You can see the stream of the entire town meeting on the city Council Facebook page.

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