Dickie Bradley: No Evidence Yet, DPP Must Stay Out of Probe

It’s been six months since that big Customs drug bust and now, two officers are officially charged. Siblings Atlee Castillo and Cheryl Castillo-Moreno are accused of helping to bring more than one hundred and fifty pounds of marijuana into Belize. They pleaded not guilty in court today, denying any connection to the drugs. Their attorney, Dickie Bradley, says he hasn’t seen a shred of evidence linking them to the crime and is calling for a fair investigation.

 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-Law

“We have not seen an ounce of evidence as yet. So, I have to emphasize this matter of allegation, but the DPP cannot involve herself in investigation. That would be a very serious matter. They can seek her advice on legal issues, but this investigation cannot be done by the very people who will come here. I was in court, I shouldn’t say this, but I was in open court in a matter of a colleague who had been charged with the heinous crime of rape, and his lawyer was making the point that the office at the DPP had sent for the complainant. On several occasions. And every time thereafter, a statement is obtained very serious matter because it’s like a judge directing how you should be preparing the case that you’re bringing to me. So I don’t think she would involve herself investigation.”

 

Reporter

“But she can issue directives.”

 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

“After it’s brought her attention that we are at this crossroads and we’re not sure we should go left or right. But to involve herself in the allegation with reason on very serious matter of the law frowns on that. The reason why we have investigators in the police department. Is for that very reason. They’re not attached to the DPPs, but you do investigation. You find some facts, what you think are evidence. You want to get some clarity. That’s what we are here for.”