A mother of 12 came to our studios today making a plea for one of her twin sons. They are 18 year old Justin and Austin who are looking for work in Placencia and live in Seine Byte. Austin has been charged for aggravated burglary with a firearm and remanded, but today Justin was taken to Dangriga Magistrate's court and charged with Austin's charge sheet. Magistrate Richard Bradley said it could not stand and set him free but their mother says police are just trying to harass the teenagers out of the village and she came to us to vent her frustration:
Shirley Burke, Mother of 12
"I say your honor can I ask a question, the judge says to me 'yes ma'am.' Is it legal to bring - I am not inquiring about Austin, he already got a charge sheet - Is it legal that Justin should appear in front of you without a charge sheet? No, section so and so of the law - it is illegal for him to be here without a charge sheet, so you are free to go. It is aggravated burglary."
Jules Vasquez
"So then it might have just been a mix-up."
Shirley Burke, Mother of 12
"It might have been a mix up but it makes me believe that it was just shuffled to get rid of things. A lot of officers know that at the end of the day you bring a charge sheet of aggravated burglary with a gun, no question about it they will be remanded and they were told that if you don't get out of this village I will find a way to get rid of you and to bring this one just for taking food and still don't arraign him properly - that makes me believe it. I am not here to say that he is innocent or he is guilty but come on I just want to speak for other parents that this is happening to. It is happening and I am not only saying this because - he is guilty, I don't believe in thief and I don't believe in murder. If you hurt me I will hurt you back but I don't believe in stealing anything. Maybe my belief might not be his but the truth of the matter is that it is not fair because we are poor and because we have the option to use this. Now I fear that I come here, like what he said, 'Miss, if I find out that he got a charge sheet, I will come back for him and what he get he will take." Now that makes me feel powerless, all I have is my voice so that's what I come to exercise."
Jules Vasquez
"So what's the status of your next son right now?"
Shirley Burke, Mother of 12
"He is being sent up to Hattieville on remand for a firearm. I know that is the procedure and let the law takes it course, but I just feel like they are abusing people, I just feel like it's something that they are abusing. I don't think it's fair and I know it's not only my cries and if he did it and they can prove it then let him go but just be fair. If Austin did it, let him go but don't railroad them because you need him out of the village or you feel threatened by them in the village. The only thing I am guilty of is being poor, only that but I have my voice and that's why I come to exercise it and thank you for having me here. That's what I am doing, I am crying out for many mothers."
Austin Smith has been remanded pending trial.
