It's the murder plot that has transfixed and rattled the nation: a 26-year-old laboratory scientist from Belmopan allegedly contracted a 37-year-old Roaring Creek resident to kill her colleague Dr Naun Bonilla - with whom she had an ongoing business dispute.
Today at the Belmopan Magistrate's Court, alleged mastermind Hannah Foreman and alleged hitman Edwin Bethran were arraigned for the murder of Dr Bonilla. 7News was there and Jaleeza Roberts reports:
This morning just after 8:30am courthouse observers and supporters of the Bonilla family started making their way out to the Belmopan's Magistrate's court for the arraignment of alleged conspirators Hannah Foreman and Edwin Bethran Jr. for the murder of Dr. Naun Bonilla.
They hoisted posters colorful and proud in a display of solidarity with the cause of justice.
At a little after 9:00 the duo arrived in a police pickup and they were whisked into the courtroom with silence from the crowd but grief in the air. Inside they were each read one count of murder and remanded.
After one hour, they exited the court room in cuffs and were pushed into the back of the police pickup for that long ride to Hattieville, while family members, friends, colleagues and patients of Dr.Bonilla shouted for justice.
Both alleged killers shocked the crowd with small gestures. They appeared to smirk, maybe even smile, and one nodded - it seemed almost in knowing approval.
We spoke outside the court with the attorney for Edwin Bethran Jr, Arthur Saldivar who stressed that it's early going yet:
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Edwin Bethran Jr
"It's a very early stage no documentation has yet been presented but sufficed to say we know that this is a very highly scrutinized case, the fact that Dr. Bonilla was murdered has not lost on anyone, certainly on both sides of the bar we want justice to be done. Justice for Dr. Bonilla is important and justice for Dr. Bonilla means that the right persons are before the court, if they are the right persons and the evidence holds up then the outcome will be what it should be. If it means that they are not the right persons and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty guilty then the outcome will be justice in that respect as well."
"At the onset, we would hope that the investigation is thorough and we would hope that the procedures were followed and if that is the case then there will be no issues going forward as to whether or not right has been done and a wrong has been corrected."
And while he is representing Bethran Jr., Dickie Bradley is representing Foreman - but was not at court this morning.
Outside the courtroom the family was heartbroken over the reactions of those accused of killing their beloved Naun:
Angel Bonilla, Brother
"Do you see the smirk on Miss Hannah's face? I hope you got it. Miss Hannah thinks all of this is a joke. She's laughing not only at the grieving family but at our justice system because she just got arraigned for a murder charge and she's laughing. Why is she laughing? Does she think our system is a joke or she has something we don't know. Is there more to this? I hope all the people involved are seeing this, people of Belize we have been bleeding for way too long."
"They did not only take away a life but a lifesaver and that is crazy."
"The effort of so many years of hard work you know, Dr. Naun was 36 years old after high school he spent 14 years studying abroad to get qualified to come back and wok and he barely got to work 7 years not even 7 years."
And in those 7 years he was able to gain many colleagues who enjoyed working with him. He was labeled as hardworking and motivated to make a difference in the field but with him now gone, they feel the emptiness in the office:
Gianni Alamilla, Pharmacist
"We lose a fellow servant of humanity, I mean we serve people. I mean the healthcare setting it's all you ever obsess about, how to better serve people. How to meet people at their worst, absorb their energy, he was a leader in that realm, he taught us how to deal with grief other peoples grief how to not bring in your own baggage to work. So it's something that we don't know how to process."
The co-accused next appear in Court on September first. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
