And while the police investigate that matter, today the Meighan brothers were back in court after missing a court date on March 16th. Apparently, they were out of the country and ended up in police hands after they were found in Quintana Roo, Mexico, accused of illegal entry and deported back to Belize.
But the initial court case was for being a member of a gang and their attorney said today that for the past two years, this last court date was the only one they missed - and reportedly for a good reason. Now he feels that Ellis and Tyrone Meighan are being targeted by the justice system simply because of their last name, especially since two additional charges were levied on them.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"At the time the bench warrant was ordered, they were at the immigration post in Corozal. Apparently or allegedly, they had been transferred to Belie from Chetumal, where they had gone for a short visit. They were brought into Belize City and yesterday an application was made by the prosecution for them to be remanded to the Hattieville prison until the trial date, under section 43 of the summary jurisdiction procedures act."
"It is anybody's guess, if someone appears every ordered appearance for two years and misses one, it is anybody's guess as to what they want to believe. I can tell you for a fact that no evidence was brought in this application to show that they intended, in fact to even show they were abroad because the evidence brought the prosecution attempted to ambushed us, which is something that is not tolerated in law and we stood up against that and we made objections and those were successful. So there was no evidence. The evidence that the prosecution attempted to bring were photocopies of documents, unauthenticated. So there is no evidence, it is your guess, it is my guess, it is every Belizeans guess. I know a lot of people will have their opinion but at the end of the day I have to focus on this issue and this set of circumstances."
"Apparently they had gone to get some medication for one of the brothers' young baby, who is very ill, suffers from some kind of illness and throughout this COVID 19, the worst times of the COVID 19, they were ordering this medicine from Chetumal, they can't go anywhere in Belize, this is Belize, they are Ellis Meighan and Tyrone Meighan."
Reporter:
"Gang figures."
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"Well I can't say what they are, I am focusing on this set of circumstances, like I told you. But they can't go anywhere here because if they're not harassed by other people then the police might just be out to get them. In fact, let me tell you this, the court had just finished hearing this application and was about the make its decision and here comes the police with two other charges. Disobeying a judicial order. Almost the same thing that the court would have heard by dealing with the bench warrant that they were brought in on."
"They will be remanded and they will come back on the 5th for the substantive matter to be heard, the being a member of a gang. We're hoping that there is no further delay because I want to believe and I've seen it happen a lot, the new charges brought will be an attempt to take away their freedom if the trial is adjourned for a further date. Honestly it's really saddening to see how certain things are done in Belize. I don't mind someone making genuine effort to ensure that justice is served but when you will go and pick on certain people because they may have a name in society, that is what irks me."
As you heard, the brothers will be back in court on April 5th.
