COURT NEWS

October 31, 2008

A teenager was today charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery when he appeared in Magistrate’s Court today. 19 year old Valentine Baptist, one of two men who allegedly robbed Joseph Duce at gunpoint yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the charges but was remanded because the offence was committed with a firearm. Duce reported to police that he was at a mechanic shop on Malcolm Street when he was approached by two men one of whom was armed with a pistol. Duce was robbed of his gold chain and cell phone but as the culprits attempted to ride away he pulled out his licensed firearm and fired several shots injuring one of the men. The man, later identified as 18 year old David Sutherland, was hit in the right shoulder and leg. He remains hospitalized at the KHMH and will be charged upon his release. His accomplice is schedule to reappear in court on December 5^th.

Twenty one year old Telswin Lara walked out of court free of a murder charge today. Lara was being charged with the murder of 27 year old Bakary Logan who was stabbed to death on December 29, 2006. Crown Counsel Grant Schorn entered a nolle prosequi indicating that the prosecution could not proceed with the case. The prosecution could not proceed because the only eye witness was not available. The incident occurred on Antlope Street where Logan and another man had an argument during which time Logan punched the man to the ground. The man then took out a knife and stabbed Logan multiple times in the face, chest shoulder and left forearm. Lara was represented by Attorney Linbert Lewis.

Brothers, Herman and Ronald Miranda were today charged with handling stolen goods when they appeared in Magistrate’s Court. Both men, security guards at the University of Belize were charged after police searched their home on Partridge Street on Wednesday and found some of the items that were reportedly stolen from a kitchen at the University’s Freetown Road campus. A large freezer has still not been recovered and one of the brother’s, Ronald, was charged with an additional count of handling stolen goods for a microwave oven. Both brothers pleaded not guilty and were each offered bail in the amount of 3 thousand dollars. They are schedule to reappear in court on December 4^th.

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