In September of 2004, a Cayo man lost 25 inches of intestine after he was beaten
by policemen at the San Ignacio Police Station. It was an outrageous act of
brutality, and now Emil Pinelo has gotten justice. At the time, Police Constable
23-year-old Cyril Wade was charged with causing dangerous harm after 33-year-old
Pinelo was beaten while in police custody in San Ignacio.
Today a jury of 8 women and 1 man deliberated for about 3 hours before they
came out with a guilty verdict. Justice Troadio Gonzalez deferred sentencing
until tomorrow to give Wade's attorney Hubert Elrington time to prepare a mitigation
plea.
At around midnight on September 13th of 2004 Wade who was at the time attached
to the San Ignacio Police Station along with another police officer Clayton
Marin were on mobile patrol when they took Pinelo into custody. Pinelo testified
that while at the station while being under cuffs wade slammed him against the
concrete wall of the police station, as he fell, wade stomped him a number of
times to the stomach causing him to vomit blood and loose consciousness.
After the incident Pinelo underwent surgery during which is when 25 inches
of his intestines were removed in order to save his life. Marin, who also testified,
corroborated Pinelo's testimony.