For five days he had been the most wanted man in Belize and the target of an intensive manhunt. All that came to an end yesterday morning when accused cop killer John Earl Young Crawford turned himself into police. This morning the 26 year old was taken to court and formally charged for last Friday night's murder of police constable Euwin Armstrong, an officer killed just because of the uniform he wore. Today the accused walked calmly and maybe even defiantly as he was escorted by CIB detectives to the Magistrate's Court for his arraignment. In court he was read a single charge of murder. And as he was leaving court what was on the mind of the accused cop killer? Keith Swift was at the courthouse and tried to find out from Crawford himself.
Keith Swift,
Earl anything you want to say?
[Looks around but no response]
Keith Swift,
You are accused of killing a cop, anything you want say?
[Keeps looking forward]
Since he was charged with murder, bail wasn't offered and he was remanded until January 28 of next year.
And in related news, today police that announced that the ministry of home affairs will take over the mortgage on a home which PC Armstrong had just bought.