A linseed gun holder has been detained in connection with a shooting that happened on Newtown Barracks on Saturday night.
He is 57-year-old businessman Richard Terry Williams.
He is accused of shooting a 20 year old Drishawn Coffin in front of Shisha nightclub. Williams was socializing and discovered that he had been robbed of a hundred dollars. Police investigations claim that Coffin was walking in front of Shisha lounge when Williams approached him with his licensed 9mm pistol and fired a single shot towards him. Police ordered Williams to stop and drop his weapon but he continued to point his firearm in another direction near another group of people and so police fired a single rubber bullet towards Williams causing him to drop his firearm.
He appeared at the magistrates court this morning where he was charged with attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, discharging a firearm in public and possession of firearm whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In court He told the magistrate that the charges are inaccurate because he does not drink.
Today his attorney said he is a not a troublesome man:
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"He says that he was out socializing on Friday night and he had his money in his hand because he was paying for some drinks or he were in that process when someone grabbed the money out of his hands. He requested that the man be returned and the person ignore him, so he saw a police mobile outside."
"He came out, apparently the guy had followed him or had come out at the same time and he made a report to the police that this guy had stolen my money and I wish for him to return it. And that is how he was treated by the Police."
"I don't know what transpired after that, but he is alleged to have shot the guy. My client simply instructed me that the guy seemed to have been following him around and he was afraid, so whatever transpired then I cannot say he did it or not."
"The charge is that he attempted to murder the person, but you've heard the facts and of course there is a set of facts that will come from the police. You as a reporter must look at that and the court itself will look the legal aspect of it before it makes a decision."
"But, I don't know Mr. Terry to be problematic person. He has no previous conviction, no criminal conviction. He had no criminal antecedent meaning that he was never charged for any crime in Belize."
"And that is the position and that is what is before the court."
Due to the nature of the offenses the magistrate COULD NOT grant him bail. HE has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 23, 2024.
