Benjamin Garcia Pleads Guilty to Firing from Moving Pickup  

A licensed gun, four shots fired from a moving pickup, and a police chase along the Philip Goldson Highway. Tonight, twenty-seven-year-old businessman Benjamin Garcia has avoided prison after admitting that he discharged the weapon near Social Lounge early Saturday morning.

The court fined him three thousand dollars, citing his early guilty plea, clean record and cooperation with police. Prosecutors then withdrew the same charge against Mexican businessman Sergio Martinez Ramirez, who maintained that he had nothing to do with the shooting. Here’s what Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero shared with reporters this morning, followed by attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley who spoke on Garcia’s behalf after his arraignment earlier today.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On Saturday around 1.30 a.m., police responded to a report by Social Lounge in Belize City where information received was that gunshots were heard. The police responded and they saw a Ford-150 pickup fleeing from the area. The vehicle was pursued and it was intercepted by the Palo Alto roundabout. Thereafter, two persons were seen inside the vehicle. They were identified as Sergio Martinez and Eduardo Garcia. Eduardo Garcia then was asked if he had a firearm. He mentioned yes, he had a firearm and he handed over a licensed dynamometer pistol. The firearm was retrieved. Both persons were taken into custody and they have since been arrested and charged for discharging firearm in public. An investigation is being carried out to determine that but for now, they have been charged for discharging firearm in public.”

 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-law

“He happened to have been in the company of Mr. Benjamin when this unfortunate matter occurred. He had absolutely nothing to do with the matter. In fact, you heard the police report that they saw on the passenger side of the vehicle that it is Benjamin who pushed his hand and discharge the firearm. So really they should not have charged this man. He had to spend days and night in a stinking police cell for something that the police know the other person had done. In any event, we went in front of the magistrate who reviewed the law, looked at the facts as presented by police and charged Mr. Benjamin Garcia three thousand dollars, who can’t come out right now because he owes the court. So he will clear up his matter but in relation to Mr. Martinez, he is grateful that the justice system has come through for him.”  

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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