Yesterday you heard the ComPol call Jamaican national Christopher McIntire's allegations against the police simply an act. He stated that in the surveillance video, McIntire is shown throwing himself to the ground, and that the police didn't touch him.
The PM had also commented on the case, indicating that Jamaicans often use Belize as a transit country.
Today McIntire's attorney, Norman Rodriguez, came by our studio to clarify that the claims his client made were that he was beaten inside the room he was dragged into, and said that the surveillance footage from that room should be released.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"I noticed that he indicated that nobody touched my client, speaking about the point where he threw himself down and we can agree that it seemed that might have happened and he said they picked him up to some extent. Now I will draw the public's attention to that video because it's all over Facebook and social media and available worldwide. Look at the video. At the point when the man allegedly threw himself down, you will note that there was an officer behind him who had a hand on either his bag or his shirt from the back. So don't say that nobody touched him. We will also draw the public's attention to the fact that yes while the man was on the ground, he did not remain there, he ended up in a room and the video clearly shows that somebody held him from the front of his shirt and dragged him in. His complaint is that while he was in that room, after being dragged, slapped and punched in the ribs. Now there is also a medical report that will come out shortly which will show that this man had to be taken to see the doctor at the KHMH for pain that he had in his ribs now the Commissioner did not mention anything about that. It seems as if the Belize Police Department is saying that it is an open and shut case. They are satisfied that no wrong was committed but why can't they provide footage of what happened in the room? This then would not even have me giving this follow up interview."
"The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister and I believe that the Immigration Department falls under portfolio and yes he, as the prime minister, has a right to comment but the prime minister I don't believe has training in law."
"But as we all know in law, you deal with each case on its own set of circumstances. The sister in law already said that the human trafficking aspect could not have been what they were dealing with because they came simply to celebrate his birthday and she went into that airport and tried to speak to the port commander to say I can change the itinerary that I have in my name into his name because I am the one who invited him to Belize."
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