Trusted Worker Burglarizes Audrey Matura’s Home

A stolen firearm, jewelry and school supplies can be replaced, but attorney Audrey Matura says the man who broke into her home took something far more valuable: her family’s sense of safety.

Matura had hired Prince Copious to perform maintenance work around her Belize City property. But while she and her family were away on Easter vacation last year, Copious burglarized the home and stole several items, including her licensed firearm. After a lengthy court process and an eventual guilty plea, the court sentenced him to ten months in prison. Matura says she wanted to attend the sentencing, but the prosecutor never informed her that it was taking place this week, leaving her disappointed with how the case concluded.

 

Audrey Matura, Belize City Resident

“When it comes to the actual decision and sentencing, I am disappointed for several things. One, I had asked the prosecutor to please inform me when they would be this decision because I wanted to be there. I had texted him and asked, do you need this impact statement. I even called him and told him I would want to be there to speak so the court considers the impact of his actions. It is not just a burglary. There is a history behind it. There is a trauma you left. I was disappointed in not being informed. I found out after the fact. So, I can’t say what was taken into consideration. I don’t know if he had mitigation plea. I don’t know what he said, if he apologized. But I think he was being more cocky. When he was on the stand and testifying clearly he realized they had their evidence against me, so he got conviction. But, at the last hearing, he was on remand for another charge for burglary. So, he was on bail. While on bail he committed another offense. Yes he is still innocent until proven guilty. So you breach the condition of the bail and that was not an aggravating factor? I believe it should have been. But I don’t know what happened n the court room because I was not honored the right I had as the virtual complainant to be present during that proceeding.”

 

Matura has put out a two-thousand dollars reward for the return of her license firearm.

 

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