And while Escobar's mother said yesterday that she would be satisfied with a murder charge, his common-law wife is taking a step further.
Janine Pott has retained former PM Dean Barrow as her attorney, and, in a letter addressed to the Minister of National Defence and Border Security, he is asking for compensation in the sum of $250,000 - a quarter million dollars.
According to the letter, the Barrow and Williams law firm is representing both Pott and her 3-year-old daughter, Jesslyn Escobar, who witnessed the killing.
It states, quote, "We believe you, as Minister of Defence, and the entire government of Belize, will want to make as much amends as possible to Janine and Jesslyn for the fatal wrong done by….Private Valencio. While nothing can compensate for the loss of their husband and father, at the very least, GOB should be willing to confer a financial statement upon Janine and Jesslyn for deprivation of…their only means of support." End quote.
The letter goes on to say that various matters were taken into account before coming up with the total sum, including the age of the deceased, his salary, the age of his infant daughter, the age of his common-law wife, and the horrible trauma and shock they suffered when they witnessed the tragedy.
They're hoping the government will agree to settle expeditiously.
