66 year old George Betson – the widely known sanitation supervisor at the Belize City Council was today charged for aggravated assault with a firearm. Normally that would have landed him in jail but because of his age and medical condition, tonight Betson is home. He was charged for pulling his gun on Eldon Reneau after an altercation early Sunday morning on Euphrates Avenue near to the Lodge Hall also known as “Through the Hole.”
Reneau reported to police that Betson pointed his 38 revolver at him. Betson admits that he did pull out his gun but says he did so in self-defense since Reneau attacked him with a bottle after an altercation with his wife. Reneau’s wife allegedly claims that Betson knocked down her bicycle while he was trying to find a parking spot.
Today in court, Betson pleaded not guilty and appeared alongside his attorney Arthur Saldivar who argued to Magistrate Edd P. Usher that police didn’t properly investigate the report and that Betson was inside his car at the time of the incident. In addition, Saldivar said Betson is 66 years old and he suffers from high blood pressure and he has had two surgeries in his head to remove blood clots.
It was convincing to Magistrate Usher who released betson in the custody of community rehabilitation officer Andre Rivero. Betson will have to surrender all his travel documents and he is to stay away from Eldon Reneau. He was ordered to stay at home but he is required to report to Rivero daily until the case is finished. It was adjourned to September 22nd.
