13 months after he shot and killed Leslie Rogers Jr., former police constable Aldo Ayuso was this afternoon arrested for killing the 21 year old Saint John's College student. It's a surprising development because the Ombudsman, Police, and the Director of Public Prosecutions all concluded that Ayuso used justifiable force when he killed Rogers on February 12th of last year. But, today at the conclusion of a month long coroner's inquest, a jury of 6 ruled that Ayuso is responsible for the shooting and the police acted quickly on that decision.
This afternoon, the former constable was escorted by his former squad brothers to the Magistrate's Court where he was formally charged with manslaughter. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord. The police prosecutor did not object to bail and so he was granted and met bail of $5,000 plus one surety. Ayuso exited the courtroom in the arms of his family and he told Keith Swift that the shooting was justified.
Aldo Ayuso,
"I just want to say that a police officer was working on duty, a guy pulled a gun on me and I had to do what I did."
Keith Swift,
A jury just said that you should be held criminally responsible for what happened.
Aldo Ayuso,
"That part the lawyer will have to explain."
Keith Swift,
Do you feel you are wrongly arrested?
Aldo Ayuso,
"Yes I do."
Richard "Dickie" Bradley,
"Perhaps the jurors in the inquest, which is not a trial, it was not a trial, it was just a inquest, maybe they thought that from the evidence of certain persons who claimed that Ayuso ran behind and thatr from theg evidence as opposed to the actual legal situation is a different matter but I am certain he will be exonerated when he goes in front of a proper jury."
Keith Swift,
Why did you ask for a speedy trial?
Richard "Dickie" Bradley,
"Well in fairness to all parties, because remember this is a tragedy, Leslie Roger Sr. has lost his son, they must be feeling hurt, this matter has become basically a media circus, Ayuso ahs been tried and convicted in the media already so its time that this matter be brought to closure."
The jury of 6 found Ayuso criminally liable after a month long coroner's inquest. 18 witnesses were called, including Aldo Ayuso. We note that a coroner's inquest is not the same as a trial. One man who sat through the entire inquest
is Leslie Rogers Sr. He is Leslie's dad and he spoke to us this afternoon before Ayuso's arrest.
Leslie Rogers Sr., Father of Deceased
"I am glad and I definitely feel happy that the corner's inquest has come to an end. Justice at least has started and I hope it continues. It's the first step. It has given me a relief. The DPP and the Ombudsman said that Mr. Ayuso was Mr. Ayuso was not criminally responsible. This gives me a relief to know that we got a chance at least at the corner's inquest. So I am relieved so far. I hope justice will prevail when it foes back to the DPP and he does the right thing."
This evening, after the arrest, Leslie Rogers Sr. told us he is not satisfied with the manslaughter charge. He said the death of his son was murder. The family has also served notice that they intend to file a civil suit against the Government of Belize.
As for Ayuso, we should note that a police tribunal voted to dismiss him last year for pulling a gun on a civilian.
