Last night we reported (see Accused Gang Rapists Walk) that accused rapists 19 year old Robert Chavez and 24 year old Leon Perez walked of court free after prosecutors showed up to court without the case file. Well after last night the pressure came down to bear on police and the DPP's office and tonight both accused are back in police custody and will be charged again for rape. But that is good news too late for the mother of the 15 year old victim who found out on 7NEWS last night that her daughter's alleged rapists were freed. Lavern Usher told us as much today.
Lavern Usher, Victim’s Mother
“Yes I heard they were freed and I don’t like what they did because they (police) didn’t give my daughter no statement and nothing at all. I heard it on the TV and so I went to the police because I don’t like it. And then one of the boys threatened me and told me plain that if I don’t drop the case with my daughter, I won’t find my daughter.”
“I feel bad because how can they walk free after what they did to my daughter and then they threatened me too. I don’t like it.”
Perez and Chavez were re-arrested in Gales Point today and will be transferred to Belize City for their re-arraignment tomorrow. The victim alleges that on May 1st of 2003 she was riding her bicycle near the Gales Point library when she was grabbed by both accused and taken into the library and gang raped.