This next story is not one we would usually air, and it is not one we are airing without thorough consideration.
Last night, just before 9, a 14 year old girl was attacked and raped by four men. It happened on the. Southside of Belize City where she had gone to the store and was heading home on her bicycle when they forcibly pulled her off and took her into a darkened area.
This evening, the girl's family reached out to our studio because they say the police have not been providing adequate assistance, especially since she fears for her life.
To safeguard her privacy, we spoke to her off camera - in the presence of her mother and other relatives. We also masked her voice.
Voice of: Rape Victim
Three boys approached me when I was on my bike and one of them told me come here but I didn't pay him any mind and I just watched him and I continued to ride so one of them came in front of me and grabbed the bike I was on and one of them started grabbing me by my throat and they told me come here so I said, leave me alone. So they said, we don't care and they came and the dragged me back by like a dark area and so they told me, this is what you'll get. So I told them, leave me alone, so when I was screaming out, they pushed their hands deep down in my throat and cover my mouth for me to not say anything. and then one of them… sexually harassed me and start… I don't want to say it. And then when I told them to leave me alone, I'll tell police and press charges because I know all of your faces, they let me go and they threw away a pants I had on because I had on a pants and a tights, they threw the pants aside, but because I was in a rush, I hurry pull on back my pants and I didn't find my tights and I hurry jump on my bike and came home."
"The police said that right now they will deal with it and we ended up all the way at Raccoon Street Police Station and then they ask me questions and so they told me that they would jump back on the case Thursday."
Reporter
"They didn't tell you to go the hospital or anything like that?"
Voice of: Rape Victim
"Yeah we went to the hospital and then they took a check up, they gave me some medications to take in case one of them gave me any diseases or injection."
Reporter
"The police, you feel they did not act with the urgency? Bacause it just happened and they could have gone to the area and find the people, since you said you knew their faces right."
Voice of: Rape Victim
"They went to the area and when they went there, the person must have went back to the area and see if anything was around and remove the evidence and gone. When the police went there to check if my tights was there they didn't find anything."
Reporter
"They say they will not continue the case until Thursday?"
Voice of: Rape Victim
"Because the lady (female officer) is on 2 day holiday. I feel a way, like I felt like why couldn't they do it today. Today I was to go to school, but because I feel afraid and thing, I didn't go to school. I dont want the boys come to my school to harass me, because they are from around the area."
Reporter
"What made you make the decision to come public like this, come to the media and to speak about what happen to you?"
Voice of: Rape Victim
"I don't want it to happen to other young ladies out there, because I have friends, but I don't want that to happen to my friends, so I came to speak to tell them young girls out here to watch how they walk at night."
No arrests have been made at this time, and we will continue to follow this story.
