By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 33-year-old Belize City man walked free from court after a serious gang-related charge was struck out due to deficiencies in the police facts presented to the court.
Deandre McKoy, an electrician of the CET Site area, St. Martin de Porres, appeared unrepresented before Mannon Dennison in Court #6, where he was read a single charge of being a member of a gang, namely the Baka Land Crips.
McKoy pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge. However, as the court reviewed the facts of the case, Magistrate Dennison ruled that the facts sheet failed to outline the essential elements required to support the offense. The magistrate noted that the facts merely detailed the history of the gang and did not contain any evidence linking McKoy to gang membership.
As a result, the court could not lawfully accept McKoy’s guilty plea. Citing case law from Justice Nigel Pilgrim in a similar matter, Magistrate Dennison ruled that the charge would be struck out, rather than dismissed.
“I will not dismiss the charge, but strike it out,” the magistrate said, explaining that dismissal would prevent the charge from being refiled, while striking it out allows police to bring the matter again should proper facts be presented.
“The matter was not addressed on its merits,” Magistrate Dennison told McKoy. “It was struck out, so it can be brought back.”
With no other matters before the court, McKoy was released. Outside the courtroom, he declined to comment on the outcome and left the area shortly after.
McKoy is no stranger to the justice system, having previously faced charges including murder and attempted murder. While he was convicted in one such matter, he later succeeded on appeal.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 33-year-old Belize City man walked free from court after a serious gang-related charge was struck out due to deficiencies in the police facts presented to the court. Deandre McKoy, an electrician of the CET Site area, St. Martin de Porres, appeared unrepresented before Mannon Dennison in Court #6, where
The post Court strikes out case against alleged Crip gang member after cops fail to prove gang connection appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
