Tonight, two policemen, a corporal and a constable, are at the Hattieville Prison, on remand for the murder of 19-year-old Deyandre Chi.
In an odd coincidence, while they were being arraigned, the Chi family was having his funeral.
7 News attended both events, and tonight we're bringing you a look at both: the laying to rest of a teenage father of one, and the incarceration of two men who one week ago, would have been seen as upstanding officers of the law.
Cherisse Halsall has the story:
When Corporal 1463 Esmin Flores and PC 1862 Salomen Cowo were led to court by their fellow officers this morning one of them was wearing a face-mask and the other had completely covered his face with a bandana.
In court no plea was taken and no bail could be granted due to the nature of the offence. The officers were remanded to Hattieville prison - where they will be placed in protective custody.
They return to court on July 26th - and because it is murder, they cannot apply for Supreme Court Bail.
But as the men were led away reporters jumped at the chance to question the lead investigator in their case.
Reporter:
"Has the Investigation been able to say who fired the deadly shot and killed Mr. Dyandre?"
Superintendent Gerald Jones, Lead Investigator
"The matter is before the court and we will see where it goes from there."
Cherisse Halsall:
"In the end Sir, do you feel that only one of these men will be charged?"
Superintendent Gerald Jones, Lead Investigator
"I have nothing else to say on this matter."
And elsewhere in Orange Walk, Dyandre's friends and family were gathering to finally lay the 19-year-old to rest. His fellow riders in the sSns of Anarchy were out in their numbers to pay tributes to a fallen rider.
Clyde Villeda could barely speak today having lost his voice to tears and grief but when reporters told him the charge he expressed relief.
Clyde "Yahari" Villeda, Boss/Friend of the Deceased
"I'm glad that the police proved me wrong and they did do the right thing because this was murder and we have lost him already but we can't do anything but at lease we are glad that they did get murder and it wasn't manslaughter regardless at least they are doing the right thing at this moment and we are glad about it and at this point in time that's all we really
wanted."
"He started the motorcycle group, we already have a trip planned for Sunday to go to Blue Creek to just commemorate him because that is what he loved, he loved going out."
Dyandre Chi's father Alberto says that as much as he wanted to attend this morning's arraignment and look his son's alleged murders in the face, the funeral had to come first.
Alberto Chi, Father Of the deceased
"I don't have the words to say how I feel right now because they left me without a son, so I don't have words for that."
"Well, I really appreciate the way the police have been charged for murder because they really deserve that for my son."
Cherisse Halsall:
"But Sir in terms of a murder charge, it will be argued at some point only man could have fired the fatal shot so do you think this murder charge for both of them will stand?"
Alberto Chi, Father Of the deceased
"Of course, because maybe one is the guy that shot my son and maybe the other guy commanded him to do it. So, they both have to get charged for murder. Also the other two police are supposed to be charged too because between four of them at least the other two should have told them, don't shoot that's just a cyclist because the police always chase the cyclist and my son could not stop because they had the high beam and. They tailgate all the cyclists if you stop they could mash them and as the cyclist stop the police always beat them up. Beat them up put them in jail for three days for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It's too much with them."
"They are supposed to also be charged because within four of them they are supposed to have joined together and make a decision not to chase the cyclists, they could easily get the license plate and get the license plate of the cycle and deal with the guy the next day."
Reporter:
"Are you planning to sue the department sir, definitely I will be looking into that tomorrow to get a lawyer for that."
Alberto Chi, Father Of the deceased
"My granddaughter is one year and thee months old, my granddaughter that he left behind and my daughter needs finance for the primary school and until the age of 18 or 21 if she goes to University and my son is not here to maintain her so I need that for my granddaughter because they took away the breadwinner of my granddaughter and the mother of my granddaughter."
So, while the Chi's may have laid their son to rest their fight for justice and the major trial that will involve is just beginning.
Critics of the murder charge against the police say that while only one cop fired the fatal shot, two of them have been charged.
