By Breaking Belize News Staff: Arthur Wade, a 32-year-old farmer of Rayburn Ridge Village who was remanded to the Belize Central Prison two weeks ago on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, has been granted bail by the High Court following a successful bail application.
Wade secured bail on Thursday, February 26, 2026, after his attorney, Orson “OJ” Elrington, presented arguments before Justice Derick Sylvester. Wade was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 plus two sureties of $5,000 each and has since met the conditions and returned home to his family.
Wade is accused of assaulting a 46-year-old man during a confrontation at a village store. The virtual complainant alleges that Wade was armed with a shotgun during the incident.
However, during the bail application, attorney Elrington submitted an affidavit from the shopkeeper where the incident allegedly occurred. In the sworn statement, the shopkeeper indicated that he witnessed the altercation unfold at his store and stated that no firearm was involved, adding that had a gun been introduced, he would have seen it.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who had initially objected to bail, withdrew the objection after informing the court that while the investigating officer had obtained a different version of events from the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper was not listed as a prosecution witness in the police case.
According to the Crown, when police questioned the shopkeeper during their investigation, he reportedly stated that he did not know what had transpired at his establishment. The affidavit presented in court, however, suggested otherwise, creating two conflicting versions from the same individual—an issue noted by the presiding judge.
In granting bail, Justice Sylvester imposed several conditions. Wade has been placed on a curfew and must remain indoors from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. He must continue residing in Rayburn Ridge and cannot change his address without notifying the court. He is required to report to the police station every Friday, surrender his passport to the High Court, attend all court adjournments in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, and refrain from contacting the virtual complainant. He is also not to commit any offenses while out on bail.
Wade was first arraigned on Friday, February 20, 2026, in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a single charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. Due to the nature of the offense, bail was initially denied, and he was remanded.
He now awaits his next court date while out on bail.
The post Rayburn Ridge farmer granted $10,000 bail amid conflicting accounts from shopkeeper about whether or not he pulled a shotgun appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Arthur Wade, a 32-year-old farmer of Rayburn Ridge Village who was remanded to the Belize Central Prison two weeks ago on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, has been granted bail by the High Court following a successful bail application. Wade secured bail on Thursday, February 26, 2026,
The post Rayburn Ridge farmer granted $10,000 bail amid conflicting accounts from shopkeeper about whether or not he pulled a shotgun appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
