Because we were not allowed into the courtroom by police - which is a violation - we were unable to get the bail status of the two co-charged 32 year old soldier Ramon Alberto Alcoser, and the man many villagers saw as the instigator, 35 year old, Juan Carlos Morales.
But, for now, the Commissioner of police has delivered on what the family called justice: a murder charge for the shooter. Of course, it is a long way to go before it can be tried in the Supreme Court; a conviction from that would be the ultimate proof of justice for the family.
In the interim, the Commissioner today told us about other charges - including internal ones - that will be levied on Morales:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The BDF Soldier who pulled the trigger, Mr Valencio, have been charged for murder, the police officer, Mr Morales, and the other BDF soldier will be both charge with attempt to pervert the course of justice in the sense that they provided statements that were inaccurate to the police during the investigation. The police officer will also be charge with aggravated assault upon a young man in the store as well as assault by virtue of the use of the
baton that he hit one of the young men with while at the store. We're also looking at internal charges for the police, act of == to good order and discipline and breach of the department policy because the force he used in that particular incident goes clearly against our use of force policy so he'll be charged with breach for department policy as well where that is concerned."
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir do you feel like the police department has gathered enough evidence to make this murder charge on Mr Valencio stick?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well I'm certain we did a good job in terms of collecting evidence, we have the video footage which is overwhelming evidence, we also managed to get the cooperation of the people who were around who also gave statements and those were submitted to the DPP and her decision was guided by the evidence and we all know the DPP, she's not someone who can be influenced by anybody, she is a person who operates on principle and she will not bring a charge if she does not see the evidence, we have seen it many times before where the pubic have pressure for a certain charge and she come up with the charge based on the law or based on the evidence and that is what she did in this case so I am optimistic that at the end of the day it is going to be what the people expect will happen."
