When we left you on Friday, it was with the news that a man had been killed in Belize City - accidentally shot inside his own vehicle by a female friend.
The victim was 27 year old Sandhill Village Councillor and Credit Union Employee Charles Canton, and the woman who fired the fatal shot killing him was his friend and back seat passenger, 24 year old Tehje Vaughan.
She was detained immediately while he was taken to the morgue, and by Monday it was announced that she had been charged for manslaughter by negligence.
7News was at her arraignment today and we spoke to her father, PUP city Councilor Albert Vaughan:
On Friday at about 5:15 a shot rang out on Second Street in King's Park area. It came from inside this Ford Escape - where Charles Canton slumped dead in the driver's seat. He had been killed by a shot from his own weapon coming from a friend sitting in the back seat:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"He was seated in the car along with two other persons when a female who was seated behind him came in possession of his firearm and accidentally fired a single shot."
Reporter
"You mentioned she came into contact with his firearm, but what was happening in the vehicle at the time?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"They were in the car consuming alcoholic beverages and the deceased placed his gun on the seat and she took the gun from the seat."
She took the gun and accidentally fired it and so today Tehje Vaughan was escorted to court from police lockdown where she spent all weekend and charged with manslaughter by negligence. Despite a request for bail, she was remanded into custody.
Her father is PUP city councillor Albert Vaughan.
Jules Vasquez
"Your daughter spent the weekend in police detention, a long weekend at that and now she's been remanded to prison. Were you expecting that news in court this morning."
Albert Vaughan, Father of Accused
"Well, I am a realist and I understand quite clear the situation. I would have been a happy father had she had bail this morning. That didn't work and so we, I guess the attorney we are going through another route. Of course, nobody wants their daughter to spend their time in that horrible place."
"I would have loved to see her get bail this morning. I think that would have been the best thing for her as young innocent person, noh? But, the chief magistrate have other..."
"She's devastating. After the bail was deny, I sat and spoke to her. These are young good kids having fun and everything just gone wrong for them, right? That's her friend that is her friend. Yeah, she's tear up."
Vaughan underscored that it was an accident that happened between friends:
Albert Vaughan, Father of Accused
"Whatever the outcome it will prove that it was an accident. These ar kids who were out there enjoying themselves. Something wrong happened. One of the good friends died. One of them is now locked away waiting on, waiting on…you know….So, no, no I noh was nobody try spin this and say because her father was a councillor and her father was this that has nothing to do with this. I think the police knows exactly what they are doing and I think our attorney knows exactly what we are dealing with."
"Right now I am not even going way there, I am thinking about Charles family, who now sits there preparing to bury that 30 year old man. I am thinking about that. It's an accident. Sometimes we wonder why, but it happened."
But, it also happened because - according to the report - she was handling a loaded weapon:
Jules Vasquez
"Is your daughter someone that has any experience handling weapons?"
Albert Vaughan, Father of Accused
"Not to my knowledge. We're peaceful people man. Kids will be kids. No not to my knowledge. And I think that may have been the misfortune part, right? You don't play with weapons."
And now Albert Vaughan has a daughter in jail waiting for Supreme Court bail and a young man he used to work with at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union at the morgue waiting for his funeral:
Albert Vaughan, Father of Accused
"Yeah, as a board member I think I deal with Charles like 2 times for the week and that's why as a board member it affects me greatly. I go there, he brings his documents for me to sign."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you spoken to his family."
Albert Vaughan, Father of Accused
"I had the happy opportunity to speak to his brother this morning. I haven't spoken to the mother, on which I am waiting on that time is appropriate."
"Losing a, losing a 30-year-old son like that it's difficult is as difficult. They won't see Charles again. That's how I look at it. I know my daughter will go through some very difficult time. These kids were friends, they hang out together, they laugh together, they work together. And so what I try to do is to understand my position, but I really try to give that sympathy to that family over there who lost that vibrant young man."
Today the Credit Union hung a bow for Charles Canton - even as the shadow of grief hangs over the institution.
And while Vaughan's attorney Leeroy Banner will apply for Supreme Court bail later this week, tonight, there is an interesting release from a new group called the Association of Defense Attorneys. Discussing today's proceedings against These Vaughan, the association, says quote, "a person accused of an accidented discharge of a firearm causing death of her close friend and co-worker, was denied ball. This was done before the magistrate even asked or heard from the attorney for the accused."
The release goes unto add, quote, "Last week in open court in the High Court a Judge was reported as saying that accused persons did not have a right to ball. We disagree most strongly." End quote.
