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He was charged for knocking down two children while he was allegedly driving drunk on the Southern Highway in January but this morning a Magistrate in Punta Gorda told the Honorable Marcial Mes that he is free to go.
Magistrate Patrick Rosado upheld a no case submission made by Mes' attorney Richard "Dickie" Bradley that there was simply not enough evidence against his client. Mes had been charged for driving a vehicle with an expired license, failure to provide a specimen, two counts of grievous harm and one count of driving without due care and attention.
But Magistrate Patrick Rosado ruled that the prosecution did not prove Mes was driving negligently, they didn't show how fast he was driving, and that the investigating officer didn't follow proper procedures in relations to the collection or in this case non-collection of a blood specimen.
Mes had been charged for knocking down 15 year old Samantha Romero and her 2-year-old nephew Denvor Gomez. Both are still recovering. The family told us this evening they are not satisfied with the decision and plan to explore other legal options. The police prosecutor has said he will appeal. Mes had taken responsibility for the accident by visiting the victims and paying their medical bills.
After the incident, Prime Minister Said Musa suspended Mes from his duties as a Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development. It is not clear if Mes will be reinstated but with the political landscape in transition, it can't be ruled out.
