But, it seems he had deliberately made himself scarce because he knew police wanted to charge him for "perverting the course of justice." That's why he went into the Belmopan Station with his attorney today. Smith said he presented the police with an audio recording of the encounter for which they have surveillance video. He also shared the audio with the press today saying of the encounter between Vidal and the female shopkeeper, quote, "there is nothing in there that even approximates to any attempt to pervert the course of justice".
He called it a normal conversation. But is it? We have prepared a full transcript of the audible portions and you be the judge:
Vidal
"Goodnight. You are the one who lives here?"
Shop Owner
"Yes"
Vidal
"I am Vidal. I would like to know if you remember about the 31st of December?"
Shop Owner
"What happened with the 31st of December?"
Vidal
"Were you here when - the 31st of December, were you here?"
Shop Owner
"No, I was at church."
Vidal
"But...uhh. Police has not come to you to check if you have something recorded?"
Shop Owner
"No."
Vidal
"Could we review it just to confirm?"
Shop Owner
"What do you want to find there?"
Vidal
"We want to know who was the one who was around here like about between 6:00 and 10:00 - thereabouts. You were the victim of a person who broke in here, right? No? When they attempted -"
Shop Owner
"Yes, they killed my husband."
Vidal
"So then your "what-it's-called" is kept 24 hours?"
Shop Owner
"Yes, I think it deletes every three weeks - three or two weeks"
Vidal
"And did they catch any person [inaudible]?"
Shop Owner
"Yes, they are destined."
Vidal
"Ahh, Ok So then I don't know if we could review it…. just to see who was around here around that time?"
Shop Owner
"What happens is that the cameras are in my bedroom and my daughter is sleeping….Only if you would want to return later."
Vidal
"So around what time?"
Shop Owner
"We don't go to bed late… But what is it that you want to find there?"
Vidal
"That's the thing. We want to see who it is because we don't know. Because supposedly a vehicle….but I don't know, a person probably walked by here - or returned this way, we don't know. That is what we would want to confirm."
Shop Owner
"Come back later."
Vidal
"More or less what time?"
Shop Owner
"Around 2:00 in the afternoon."
Vidal
"ok"
Shop Owner
'uhu."
Notably, Smith says Vidal never went back to see the video - even though the woman gave him a time when he came back. And while indeed there was no request to delete video files - it can be argued that just Vidal's presence, or him bringing up a past murder that happened with that woman's family could be interpreted as intimidating. Smith says that, it was quote, "just casual conversation" and added, quote "there is nothing in there that is unlawful in the least." He also said that going to inquire about a security video is something that any civilian can do when they are trying to gather information about a matter of interest. He said, quote, "there is absolutely nothing sinister. It's what you should do! It's what you're obliged to do! How else are you going to get evidence? How else are you going to build a case? How else are you going to test the veracity of things put to you. By cross checking! Absolutely nothing sinister about it." End quote.
So, then, is Vidal doing his own investigation? Smith didn't agree with that statement, but he did say this, quote, "Let me reiterate Mr Vidal is looking to see if he can piece together what happened. To see if what he's been told is true and if there's any evidence that could assist his nephew. He is no longer in the police force, he's absolutely entitled to do that."
So, will they still charge Vidal Smith says that with all the public scrutiny around the case, he would not be surprised if he is still charged for perverting the course of justice but he says he is certain this would be a malicious prosecution.
We'll keep monitoring developments in this very closely - and will have a team in Belmopan tonight for the Vigil being held in remembrance of the triple homicide.
