But was there any reasonable suspicion that Laddie Gillett and Thomas Palacio were breaking the law or even trespassing? Many would say that in this, a case of Manslaughter that's neither here nor there. But today in court it became one of the central questions in determining whether the cops should have ever even attempted to detain the two boys.
And when Justice Antoinette Moore put that question to one of the trial's key witnesses, Sargent Vasquez, he had to admit that given the circumstances there was no reason for the actions taken by Kareem Martinez, Special Constable Miranda, and PC, Pok.
And, there was even less reason for Kareem Martinez to fire his weapon, a weapon that should have only been fired to quell a riot or to stop a previously detained prisoner from escaping.
So, how does the family feel about all this? 7News got a chance to speak with them today shortly after they left the courtroom.
Tuesday January 31st marked the 4th day in the trial against Kareem Martinez for the manslaughter of Laddie Gillett. And while this would be a trying experience for any family to go through, this evening, the Bradley Fleming's left the courtroom feeling a little lighter.
Emil Bradley, Laddie's Foster Dad
"Today, I mean, I am satisfied with the testimony with the witnesses and with the people from forensic I mean they made the case stronger, they linked him with the case to the area and today they finished linking him after Sargent Vasquez testified and one of the question was did you fire the shot and he said yes and that gives us more hope that we will, we will get justice. I think at the end of the day we will get justice and so I am satisfied with the outcome of today."
Lucy Fleming, Laddie's Foster Grandmother
"After yesterday when we felt so disheartened because we felt that the police had done such a bad job, we're confused, were confused themselves about what they were doing so we went home very disheartened. Today is a new day and we felt like the testimonies were very easy to understand, very clear and very well done. So it gave me pause to reconsider the entire police department who I was feeling very bad about yesterday but I must say today made a. Huge difference to our case but to the future I believe, I was disheartned because I thought is this really what it's all about but I thought today, no that's not really what it was about here were some officers who really weren't doing a good job and today we had another example of perfect policing so we were very pleased with today, we feel enriched."
And one of the reasons for that enrichment was the insistence by one of the witnesses, Sargent Vasquez, that the officers who detained Laddie should have been guided by department protocols, even though they weren't.
Emil Bradley, Laddie's Foster Dad
"Yes, there is but how often do they go through and familiarize themselves refresh themselves with this guide, that is the question, you know so you could have everything there in writing but if you don't practice, if you don't read to know what is there it is of no use. So, I must say that was good that sergeant brought that out so that the court and the public brought that out to say that there is a manual, there is a guide for police officers when it comes to discharging a firearm."
Emil Bradley, himself an officer says that he'll never be able to shake the feeling that what happened to Laddie and Thomas on July 14th, 2021 isn't likely to have happened to two teenaged white boys.
Emil Bradley, Laddie's Foster Dad
"Well, one of the problems that we face here in Belize is that we like to profile people, you know and I think that was the situation in this case, mean. I can't see how come a big security guard of that size of such nature, with such experience being an ex solider seeing and you can't identify two youths and you will feel afraid and say of they are suspicious just to call the police, it's because he's scared, he's a coward that is all I'd have to say about him."
