http://www.7newsbelize.com/images/23/.jpg And keeping it at the courthouse...
It's been almost five days since 3-year-old Amari Rodriguez was killed in her mother's arms. Her father, Delmar Rodriguez, and another man, Carlos Chi, were also murdered after a reported 60 rounds were fired off on Ambergris Caye around midnight on Sunday.
And tonight, their alleged killers are on remand. As we told you, Michael Brown turned himself in, but Christian Espat was in Chetumal. He handed himself in at the border yesterday and later charged.
But - even as he was arraigned today - his attorney says he has proof that Espat is innocent.
Courtney Menzies has this story.
Christian Espat is currently behind bars at the Belize Central Prison, awaiting his next court appearance. The San Pedro Town resident and his co-accused Michael Brown were arraigned this morning in Belize city MAgistrate's. Court on 3 counts of murder, 4 counts of attempted murder, and 4 counts of grievous harm with use of deadly weapon.
But Espat maintains that he did not pull the trigger on the gun that killed a 3 year old girl, her father, and another man on Sunday night.
And last night, his attorney explained that Espat presented evidence of an alibi - that he was at a Chetumal hospital at the time of the murders - but was still charged.
Lynden Jones, Christian Espat's Attorney
"Two police from Special Branch, they accompanied me to Corozal this morning where Mr Espat paid the funds for their traveling going and coming so he paid their funds, we went to the border, and we waited for Mr Espat. Mr Espat came in a Mexican taxi, passed us, went to Immigration, stamped and told Immigration that he is wanted but his attorney is here with two police waiting for him. Immigration then called me and handed Mr Espat over to me and the two officers, where we then went to Tropic Air, sat down and waited for the 1:30 flight, came out here, he was detained, it would have been 3 hours later they called saying they are ready to do the interview, an interview was done, when that interview was done, despite all evidence shown, medical papers, the date, his passport stamp exiting and entering the country, the officer who did the interview informed him that they had received advice to go ahead and charge despite all evidence so charges were laid on Mr Espat."
And according to the ComPol, while they couldn't have saved the three victims, he is sure they will get justice for them
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"There are certain things that no matter what no level of policing can prevent and I think that this would be one of them. We just have to make sure that we work the case as best as we can, put forth the best possible evidence to make sure that we can secure a conviction and I'm sure that once we can do that then the high court can do what they should do in putting them away for life."
