After nearly two months in jail, American firefighter, 41-year-old Gilbert Lightburn Jr. is finally free. Lightburn was detained on seven criminal charges, including three counts of attempted murder, following an altercation outside of Shisha Nightclub on August 31st where four men were stabbed.
In court on October 30, the four complainants-Ian Abraham, Javon Abraham, Mark Usher, and Giovanni Abraham-chose to withdraw their complaints. The court advised them to file a report with the DPP due to the case's gravity. After that report was filed, all charges were formally dismissed.
According to initial investigations, Javon Abraham was approached and stabbed inside the club, leading to a fight outside that also injured his relatives. Lightburn was quickly arrested.
After court today Lightburn's Attorney Richard Dickie Bradley said that the fireman will now be able to attend his own wedding:
Richard "Dickie" Bradley, Attorney
"On my left, this is fiance, there will be a wedding, it will probably be sped up because of what has transpired. Gilbert came to Belize because well-known father Gilbert Lightburn Sr. had passed away and he was getting ready to go back home to Los Angeles, to his family when this unfortunate incident occurred at the night club on Saturday night, early Sunday morning."
"You, as a journalist, you know the background in which he lost an extremely valuable jewellery for which a police officer is now facing court charges for having tried to palm out one of those jewellery."
"What has transpired is that it turned out that the complainants are related to Gilbert Jr. and consequently, Lightburn was able to make contact with the family and I think Patricia had originally called and then the miss had also been...10 times a day been in contact with the lawyer and other persons, 12 to be exact."
"And they all came in and you know the story is that magistrate was willing to withdraw all charges but the charges are in their language in America, felonies, attempted murder is a very serious allegation, it's really not true and our praises are due to Allah."
"He was praying when the police went for him this afternoon and the police heard some of his prayers and telling him, your prayers are answered because you are free man and he's walking out of the court in Belize City. He will go back to his life, he has a good job and he has a good family member and we will see the pictures of the big wedding when that is said hopefully. I will sponsor the..."
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