Up until 2015, the name Yolanda Schakron was well-known to Belizeans. She started out as an activist rallying against gun violence, and eventually, she became a PUP politician for a very brief stint. But, after she lost the race for Belize City Mayor against Darrell Bradley, she returned to private life. But, she's in the news tonight because she won a case at the Court of Appeal this morning.
The backstory to this appeal dates all the way back to February 2010, when Schakron was only a grieving aunt. She was clamoring for police to solve the violent gun murder of her nephew, Chris Galvez. It is unclear exactly what happened, but the Reporter Newspaper published an article which alleged that Corporal Darrell "Tutsi" Usher was the culprit.
It was an allegation, without proof, and Usher went after the Reporter Press alleging libel. We are told that the reporter settled the matter out of court with Usher.
But, Usher also sued Schakron for slander, and her defense was that she did not make this allegation to the news reporter who wrote the libelous article. Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin did not believe her defense, and in a ruling on the case, the judge made a finding of fact that he believed the news reporter who asserted in evidence that Schakron did make the allegation to him. So, he ordered Schakron to pay Usher $15,000 in damages, and Usher's court costs.
Schakron appealed the Supreme Court judgment, and this morning, the panel of judges handed down a ruling on it. After consideration, they disagreed with the Chief Justice's decision. So, they allowed Schakron's appeal and set aside the ruling against her.
She no longer has to pay damages, and via telephone today, she told us that while she is relieved, this outcome does not help her to deal with the grief of losing her nephew, who she still dearly misses. She said that she was hoping for a positive outcome and that it was her faith in God that got her through.
When Usher exited court today, he did not grant any comments to awaiting press.
