The fate of the three Belizean security guards and their boss from the Las Vegas casino in Corozal is now in the hands of a Mexican federal judge. The casino’s vice president George Hardie Jr. along with three of their cobra security guards: David Abner Gomez, Alphonso Martin Miller and Curlin Samuel Thompson are facing stiff sentences for illegal gun possession and attempted murder. The attempted murder is for shooting and seriously wounding Mexican national Edwin Navarro Meneses after an altercation at the casino on Saturday. The gun charge is because all four allegedly crossed the border with their 9 milimeter pistols which are illegal in Mexico.
The men have been detained since early Sunday morning and pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court. Last night we showed you the casino owner and his security guards handcuffed in the bed of a pickup truck and today pictures were released of the four in orange jumpsuits with their hands cuffed and feet shackled. George Hardie Jr. has retained a private attorney but the new honorary consul designate Jorge Valencia told us today via telephone that the men are in good spirits but their fates are unsure.
Jorge Valencia, Honorary Consul to Chetumal
“They have a long process to go ahead with. They have been taken in front of a judge on Monday night when they were charged with the two counts and the judge has 72 hours to actually decide if there is a case against them on any of the charges. So in 72 hours he will decide if he lets them free or if he orders them to go to jail so they can stand trial in a court.”
Keith Swift,
So right now there fate is in the hands of that judge.
Jorge Valencia,
“Yes their fate is in the hands of that judge along with their lawyer.”
Keith Swift,
We saw them in their orange jump suits handcuffed and with their feet shackled. Do you know what is the reason for that?
Jorge Valencia,
“That is a normal procedure when you are in custody of the judicial system in Mexico. They are in the jail but they are not actually in the jail. They are in a special place that they have where they put prisoners before the judge actually decides if they will stay or won’t stay.”
Keith Swift,
What are their spirits? I know you spoke to them.
Jorge Valencia,
“They are optimistic that everything is going to work out good but they have been talking back and forth with their lawyers and their lawyers have told them that everything looks like it is working out good.”
The Mexican federal judge should make that decision before Saturday. If he finds there is sufficient evidence – the men will have to argue for bail. Some things to note are that friends of the detainees are optimistic the attempted murder charge will be dropped since Navarro was shot on the Belize side of the border. Secondly, in an interview with the Mexican media, Edwin Navarro Meneses who was seriously wounded and is still hospitalized – says that he is afraid for his life because he considers casino owner Hardie a powerful man. The detainees are being held at the Social Rehabilitation Center of Chetumal, reportedly in an area separate from the general prison population.
And what was all the ruckus and gunplay about? Well the man who got shot, Navarro Meneses is quoted in the Mexican media as saying that it was an argument over a beer he took from a tray that was being carried by a waiter. Sure enough, it’s a story that’s all over the place and we’ll keep following it.
