But first, to Chetumal where 3 Belizean security guards and the owner of Las Vegas Casino in Corozal are still in lockdown. As we told you on Friday night they face two very serious charges, the first is attempted murder of a Mexican, and smuggling of firearms into Mexico. According to Mexican newspaper reports that charge was changed to “transporting arms, ammunition and cartridges that are for the exclusive use of the Mexican armed forces.” There was no successful appeal, so those charges stand. But the firearm possession charge only stands against three of them; they are: George Hardie Jr., David Gomez, and Curlin Thompson. Apparently Martin Millar has been cleared of that charge. Still all four face the charge of attempted murder of a Mexican citizen, Edwin
Navarro Meneses. Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington today told us he has gotten the official report, but has heard otherwise from good sources.
Hon. Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“This morning I got a call from a friend who lives in Corozal but who has a child or tow children in Mexico and who goes to Chetumal often, maybe two or three times a day, and he told me that one of the charges had in fact been dismissed, the charge of being in possession of the weapons. Apparently the suggestion he said was that the guys had actually checked in their weapons when they went across to Mexico and that apparently was borne out when the matter was taken to court. So they are not faced with that charge but they are faced with the charge of attempted murder alone. Of course the Mexican have their system of laws, a bit different from ours. Here we are deemed to be innocent until proven guilty. Over Mexico you are deemed to be guilty and you have to prove your innocence. It is a civil system of law, fundamentally different from ours and they have their procedures and you can’t hurry them.”
In Mexico an attempted murder conviction carries a sentence of 30 years in prison. It could be another year before the trial starts. Until then, barring some dramatic intervention, they are expected to remain in custody.
