By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old fourth form student from western Belize was granted $6,000 bail on Thursday by Justice Candace Nanton after the court found “special reasons” in his favor in connection with an attempted murder charge stemming from a Garifuna Settlement Day stabbing in Dangriga on November 19.
The teen, represented by attorney Orson “OJ” Elrington, had been remanded to the Belize Central Prison earlier this week after being denied bail during his arraignment in Dangriga. However, Justice Nanton ruled that his age, his status as a high school student, and an affidavit from the virtual complainant together constituted sufficient grounds to grant bail.
The accused is charged with stabbing a man during the Settlement Day festivities at Island’s Bar. But according to Attorney Elrington, the victim himself has repeatedly insisted that the student is not the person who attacked him.
In an affidavit presented to the High Court, the victim stated that while standing near the stage around 11:00 p.m., a person dressed in full black ran into him and stabbed him twice in the neck. He said he did not know the attacker, and after regaining consciousness in the hospital, he informed police that the assailant was unknown to him.
The victim further stated that when shown a photograph of the accused student after his release from the hospital, he was able to “categorically” confirm that the student was not the person who stabbed him.
He told the court he made three attempts to give police a further statement, but officers allegedly refused to take it. During the student’s arraignment, the sitting magistrate ordered that the victim’s further statement be recorded, but according to Elrington, police still did not follow through.
In his affidavit, the victim said he was making the statement of his own free will and explicitly requested that the charges against the accused be withdrawn, writing: “He is an innocent man and is not responsible for my injuries.”
With no objection from Crown Counsel Maria Santana-Nembhard, the court granted bail with several strict conditions. The 19-year-old must: report to the San Ignacio Police Station every Saturday, to avoid interfering with school hours; reside with his father at their home; attend all court dates at the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court; refrain from contacting the victim or any prosecution witness, directly or indirectly; and not leave the jurisdiction without permission from a High Court judge.
Elrington said he believes the case will have “a very good outcome” for his client, especially given the victim’s clear statement that the wrong man was charged. He noted it was unfortunate that the student had already been escorted to prison earlier this week before today’s ruling corrected the situation.
The student, now out on bail, awaits the continuation of court proceedings in Dangriga.
The post 19-year-old 4th form student charged for attempted murder at Island’s Bar even though stabbing victim told police it wasn’t him; granted $6,000 bail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 19-year-old fourth form student from western Belize was granted $6,000 bail on Thursday by Justice Candace Nanton after the court found “special reasons” in his favor in connection with an attempted murder charge stemming from a Garifuna Settlement Day stabbing in Dangriga on November 19. The teen, represented by
The post 19-year-old 4th form student charged for attempted murder at Island’s Bar even though stabbing victim told police it wasn’t him; granted $6,000 bail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
