Charges Dropped in Alleged Highway Stabbing Case

Two Belize City men accused of a brutal attack on a High Court clerk are walking free tonight. Burton Claire, thirty-one, and Kareem Allen, twenty-two, were charged last August for allegedly stabbing and robbing Deannie Requena near Mile Fourteen on the George Price Highway, then leaving her for dead. Requena told police she was attacked in broad daylight by Claire, whom she called her brother-in-law, and another man later identified as Allen. But when the case came up in court today, the prosecution hit a wall; the complainant couldn’t be found. Claire, despite his attorney’s absence, asked the magistrate to proceed. And after a short delay, the court dismissed all charges for want of prosecution. Claire and Allen walked out free men, with Claire insisting they were innocent all along and that the case was built on a false report.

 

Reporter

“You all were accused of stabbing up Ms. Requena, jacking her money, cause a wound… the whole nine yards.”

 

Burton Claire, Acquitted of Robbery

“Everything was a lie. Nothing ih cyant prove. I noh know why ih noh cohn da court cohn prove and mek a lotta scene pan di media and cyant cohn da court todeh cohn prove nothing. Well, todeh just show, if yoh noh got nothing fi prove, di court just dash it out. Yeah, but thanks.”

 

Reporter

“Mr. Kareem, every charges, dehn seh dehn charge you fi theft; dehn seh dehn find you with money. Were you found with money?”

 

Kareem Allen, Acquitted of Robbery

“My money. Nobody money. I feel good, free man.”