Everyone knows that when you go over to Mexico - if you ever get caught with a gun - whether it's yours or someone else's, stolen or licensed --- chances are you won't see sunlight for a while. And, we imagine, the laws are similar in Guatemala. But for a pair of Guatemalan's, things were a little different in Belize - since they were caught with a gun - and were sent home back to their country after they denied owning it.
35 year old Juan Manzanero and a 17 year old male, both of them auto mechanics who were charged with keeping firearm and ammunition without a gun license, were acquitted of the charges today in Magistrate's Court.
The incident occurred on June 19, 2009. Manzanero and the young man were travelling on the Western Highway returning to Peten when they were stopped at a police checkpoint at mile 31.
A search of the vehicle turned up a 9 millimeter pistol with 40 rounds of 9 millimeter ammunition in a black plastic under an arm rest between two seats in the front of the vehicle.
Manzanero testified that he did not know that the firearm and ammunition were in the vehicle when he left Peten to come to Belize to buy auto parts. He said his brother had borrowed the vehicle the day before and while he was remanded in prison his brother visited him and told him that it was he who had left the firearm and ammunition in the vehicle.
Magistrate Ed Usher was convinced that Manzanero was telling the truth because Manzanero came to court on every adjourned date for over a year and he never failed to sign in at Benque Viejo Police Station which was a condition for his bail. Manzanero and the minor were represented by attorney Dickie Bradley.
