Tonight, the Belize justice system faces a serious crisis: the Director of Public Prosecutions has refused to review files for the Police Department. 7NEWS has confirmed that yesterday DPP Kirk Anderson sent 400 files in boxes to the police, all those files which his office had under review to assist with legal advice, telling investigators how to proceed and what charge to lay to ensure the best chance of a successful criminal prosecution.
But, no more. Yesterday, Anderson's driver deposited the files at the Raccoon Street Station and his messenger signed off for them. What is reported to have happened after that makes justice look like a circus.
Officer Commanding Eastern Division Crispin Jeffries became aware of what was happening, and ordered his officers to collect the files, and return them to the DPP's office on Barrack Road. So minutes later, a police pickup rolled up, and roughly placed the boxes on the sidewalk in front of the DPP's office. Anderson then reportedly instructed his driver to collect them and take them back to Raccoon street.
But when Anderson's Montero got to Raccoon Street, Jeffries reportedly barred the DPP's vehicle from entering the compound and warned the DPP's driver, who is a police man, that as his commanding offer he was ordering him to return to the DPP's office with the files. That's where they are tonight but, as we
understand it, the DPP staff has been ordered to ignore them.
So what's behind all this beef? Well, it's about this man, Chayben Abou-Nehra. The DPP instructed police to charge him for the murder of Shawn Copius and the CIB Office instead charged him for manslaughter.
The DPP has written to the Commissioner of Police informing him of his great displeasure at that decision, and 7NEWS has obtained that letter. It says: "as of August 15th this office will no longer be accepting any files from the police department.....additionally we are....now returning to your office all case files which are not yet under consideration."
That's where it stands this evening, and today the Commissioner of Police refused to comment on the matter. Anderson could not be reached for comment as he is out of the country.
