He's Belize's favourite defense attorney - especially for the guilty - and the media's favourite raconteur. But, Dickie Bradley is also a former Attorney General - even though the post was only briefly held. But, we asked him today - from his reservoir of in - court experience - how might an independent investigation into the Joseph Budna abduction look? Here's his idea for it:
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"We are a nation that is learning as we go along. We are making many, many steps as we go along. But I thought about it. And to have an independent investigation would probably look something like this. Whoever is going to be in charge of the investigation would not necessarily be the investigator in the sense that just as an argument, you have the former justice of the Supreme Court, Adolf Lucas, a man whose integrity is impeccable. He was a former police officer that rose to the ranks of inspector, superintendent, continued the Saturday night school and eventually became a lawyer and then a DPP. He was a chief magistrate and then a judge. You would put someone with that kind of knowledge in charge of the investigation. He will decide how much he wants to rely on in-house investigators, because there is a smear on the police department, or he's going to co-mingle former investigators, persons who you can't intimidate and utilize the police only where the police in-house is needed for certain matters. So remember, we can't hear out here. This is a country which the returned commissioner has said there is a problem of trust between we the citizens and that department, which basically runs it. So if there's no oversight on the police. So what you would want is that the least they have to do with anything the better. Now the initial investigation or report should have said that the three officers who were seen on video, who are known because you can't tell who they are if you are in the police department and a uniform, police came on the scene that they are to be charged. You don't need another investigation to go over that. They were seen beating and they were seen taking away a man who ended up in enemy territory. They can be charged. They should be charged now there is no hold up with that they should be charged and why have they not been charged? Because if they are charged, kidnaping in this country is many, many years in prison. They're not going to pay the fine."
"So the independent investigation can't be done by the police department because police officers are involved going right up the ranks. I don't going to say where it stops yet. We will wait for the investigation."
Reporter:
"No, but the cabinet has said it stops at the primary at the Compol, he's firewalled. They have already cleared him."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Yes, but that is not on the basis of any investigation."
Reporter:
"That was the finding of the investigation. According to the press release."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Yeah, but that is an executive finding. (Laughs)"
