Tonight, a video of domestic abuse and a disappointing courtroom outcome has shocked and saddened the community.
The video went viral on Facebook this afternoon. It shows a police officer named Phillip Garbutt in his home setting - assaulting his common law wife and then striking her 8 year old son who tried to protect his mom.
That happened back in February. He was first charged then - but yesterday those charges were suddenly withdrawn - all charges. Now, the child's biological father is concerned because while the mother did choose to withdraw her complaint against Garbutt - the state should ensure that it proceeds with the prosecution on the child's behalf - since he was also injured.
But, disappointingly, it did not. I looked at the chilling video today:
Yesterday afternoon when 39 year old Police Constable Phillip Garbutt walked out of the court a free man it is because the charges of aggravated assault and wounding against him had been withdrawn.
As often happens in such cases, His common-law wife told court she does not wish to proceed with the matter in court - so the charges were withdrawn.
But, he was also charged for assaulting her 8 year old son - a medico legal form showed that he harmed the child who got an injury to his eye when he struck him across his head. It happened On Tuesday February 17th at their home on Watermelon street.
The argument ensued over dirt in the kitchen - and escalated when Garbutt choked and punched her, bursting her upper lip.
In a heartbreaking act, her 8-year-old son intervened with an iron bat in an attempt to protect his mother. Garbutt took the bat away and slapped the child twice.
Voice of: Common-law-wife
"No James, go baby go..."
Phillip Garbutt
"You want to knock me? You want to knock me boy?"
Voice of: Common-law-wife
"You need to stop Phillip I will call your ma."
Phillip Garbutt
"Move from in front of me you never raise a F*cking bat I am telling you, you never do that."
Voice of: Common-law-wife
"Go in the room, go in the room move from in front of me."
Phillip Garbutt
"I am tired of you and our stupid mouth F*ck happen to you?"
Voice of: Common-law-wife
"Phillip!"
Phillip Garbutt
"Respect yourself. I asked you one thing and I am the one taking care of you B*itch. F*ck I would have killed you, I'm telling you I would have killed him."
But, despite the threats, and despite the harm done to the child - Garbutt is free of charges tonight.
According to his lawyer, the child's biological father visited social last week to get them involved to protect his child but he believes that they dropped the ball. His attorney told us via text that "From the time a police is charged by the police for beating a woman and a 8 year old child, social should have come to the rescue of the child..."
The Director of the Social Services Department Shawn Vargas told us his office did not withdraw the charges and that the decision as made without consulting the Department.
Vargas told us that his office is seeking legal advice on the withdrawal of charges. The CEO in the police Ministry, Elton Bennet has given other media a comment saying, quote, "I have already had a discussion with the Commissioner of Police and he will be… ensuring that we bring this individual into some form of tribunal or disciplinary process because that behavior, that conduct is certainly one that is unbecoming to the extent of not serving in the Belize Police Department." End quote.
