He was to face a charge of murder but tonight a Belize City man is free after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdraws the case. DPP Kirk Anderson today appeared before magistrate Margaret Gabb- Mckenzie to withdraw a charge of murder against Francis Bustamante. We were unable to ascertain the reason for the procedure, nevertheless Bustamante today walked out of court a free man. Bustamante had been accused of the murder of 18 year old Gareth Betancourt, which occurred on the 29th of November of last year in Ladyville. At the time it was alleged that the 18 year old and Bustamante had been involved in an argument after which the young man was stabbed and later died of his injury. But Betancourt was not the only one injured as a result of the argument as reports were that upon hearing of the incident, Betancourt's brothers issued a beating and even stabbed Bustamante landing him in the hospital.

Tags Kirk Anderson Margaret Gabb McKenzie Francis Bustamante Ladyville