Aaron Flowers, he's the 29 year old Ladyville resident who a police officer viciously beat inside a holding cell at the Ladyville police station. In June of 20233, Inspector Martinez is accused of removing the padlock from the holding cell area, barging into the cell and bashing Flowers over the head.
Well, Inspector Martinez remains on trial for wounding.
Tonight there are significant developments in that case and many red flags appearing. First, his attorney Andrew Bennett recused himself from the case today. Second - and most mysteriously - an attorney who claimed to be acting on behalf of Flowers told the court earlier this week that the victim wants to withdraw the case against the police Inspector.
But in the Chief Magistrate's courtroom today, the DPP herself - who is the prosecutor acting on Flowers' behalf - said she gave no one permission or authority to act for her.
Today, his mother told us that her son has received repeated offers and inducements from police officers to drop the case.
We asked about this latest mystery move in the court. She asked us to conceal her identity:
Jules Vasquez
"Now, something very unprecedented happened recently where an attorney allegedly went to court saying that your son has agreed to drop charges. Did your son send this attorney to the court to drop the charges? Did he authorize this?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"Well, in regards to that, and since the matter is still in the court, I don't want to fully, I don't want to speak on that, because I don't know the full situations surrounding that. But if that is indeed true as alleged, that is that is a very serious, serious that that is serious."
Jules Vasquez
"But the question I'm asking you is, yes or no, did your son authorize an attorney to go into court and drop the case?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"I can't speak on that, but I can speak on the fact that as far as I know, my son will never drop this case because all he wants is justice."
"And I keep telling him that although there is a lot of people and a lot of injustice has happened to in Belize in regards to police and police brutality, I still have a little bit of faith in our justice system and I'm still of the belief that there are still good people in that justice system and that justice will prevail."
"And as far as I know, he told me, Mom, I'm not going to drop the case."
Jules Vasquez
"Has your son received multiple offers to drop this case?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"Yes, he did."
Jules Vasquez
"In exchange for what? Money, land, house…"
"Land and house they offer your son? That is hard to believe. Is that. Is that. Is that for real?It is for real. I'm not lying. Okay,"
"But he still has not the case. And this has caused some some division in your household."
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"Yes, it has to a certain extent."
Jules Vasquez
"Your husband, his father wants him to drop the case."
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"Yeah, he did. But, ahm, the only reason my husband had asked him to do it, but he just ask him my son."
Jules Vasquez
"He just asked him. Why?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victi
m
"Because he's he's fearful for my child's life. Because that's his only son."
Jules Vasquez
"So your your your husband fears that if he does drop the case, his life is in jeopardy?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"Yes."
Jules Vasquez
"And however you apprehend that, you you know that same fear. But you still want him to proceed with the case. Why is that?"
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"So I told my husband sometimes somebody has to be used as an example and it's so sad he has to be used."
Jules Vasquez
"But then he didn't use his discretion and he he didn't act and behave responsible."
"Okay. Soh now, but you want to you want justice, even though you believe it jeopardizes your son's life."
Voice of: Desirae Flowers, Mother of victim
"I want justice. Although I'm fearful of that. I believe in a man up there and God always win over evil. I want justice. And I have a praying grandmother."
Today in court, the Chief Magistrate asked Flowers if he gave any such attorney permission to act on his behalf and he said he never spoke to any such attorney by that name and that he signed no documents giving anyone attorney permission to act on his behalf.
FloWers told the judge that he has been harassed continuously, interfered with and offered inducements by police officers. He adds that he has been detained on nuisance charges a number of times for this reason.
The DPP today noted herself that the offers for Flowers to withdraw the case has, quote, "seriously intensified."
In a sentencing indication, the Chief Magistrate has made it clear that due to the nature of the offense, she would be imposing a custodial sentence upon him - if found guilty.
The matter has been adjourned.
