And the police are also investigating another death, this one on Ambergris Caye. American National 46-year-old Jennifer Griffith, who has been living in Belize for some time, was in a golf cart with her husband when they got into an accident. They crashed into a bar, and that then led to a bar fight where conch shells were being hurled. Griffith was injured, and by the next day, she was dead. The ComPol explained the chain of events that led to her death, but since the postmortem hasn't been done as yet, the police aren't sure what caused it.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Police were on patrol on Northern Ambergris Caye, this was Saturday, when they came across a number of persons who were engaged in a brawl, somewhat of a fight. The police ended up detaining the persons who were involved, that includes an American woman who displayed injuries. She was taken to the police station along with the others where she was issued with a medico form where she was subsequently taken to the San Pedro polyclinic for treatment while the other persons were detained at the police station pending investigation. It is my understanding that prior to the brawl, the lady was on a golf cart along with her husband and they collided into a building with the golf cart during which she may have also hit her head and it was that collision that eventually led to the brawl and during that brawl she was also stoned with a conch shell which also caused her head injuries. She went to the polyclinic with the police and she refused medical treatment and self discharged herself from the clinic and went home. The next morning she seemingly was having pain and she went back to the clinic where she succumbed. At this time, we are not able to stay what the cause of death is, if she died as a result of the conch shell or as a result of the accident, so I spoke to the Director of the National Forensic Service this morning and requested that the postmortem examination be expedited and so it will be done first thing tomorrow morning."
Courtney Menzies:
"So if it is that the accident caused her death, likely nobody can be charged."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Her husband can be charged then."
Courtney Menzies:
"But if it is the conch shell who caused her death then that's a manslaughter charge as well?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"More than likely manslaughter, yes. From what I was made to understand is that subsequent to her discharging herself from the hospital she had indicated to the police that she didn't want anything against those individuals so they're in custody and they'll be charged at the very least for disorderly behavior."
Griffith was married to a San Pedrano.
