Egbert Ferguson is arraigned for handling stolen good, but claims police brutality

Egbert Ferguson

Twenty-two year old Egbert Ferguson was charged today with handling stolen goods. The charge came following allegations that Ferguson was in possession of a Dell Laptop stolen, along with other items, from the house of Jeremy Pipersburgh. The Lord’s Bank resident was detained by Belize City police on Tuesday and today, he was arraigned for the offense. But when he appeared in court, Ferguson had his head banded and bruises on his body. According to Attorney, Audrey Matura Shepherd, her client was allegedly beaten while in police custody. Following his arraignment, both Ferguson and Matura-Shepherd addressed the media.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney

“Well as you noticed I informed the court that I wanted the records of the magistrate’s court reflect that my client, Mister Egbert Ferguson, was beaten by the police officers who went to pick him up and detained him and now charged him. My client informs me that when he was taken to precinct one, there were three police officers—two looked on as the other one beat him. He was whapped in the head with a piece of iron; that is why he had to go to the hospital and you see his head bandaged up. He was beaten on his two legs. You would see the bruises on his leg. And after they beat him and he was pouring in blood, they took him out in the yard and sprayed him down as if he is an animal to try and wash off some of the evidence.”

Egbert Ferguson, Claims Police Brutality

“The police man dehn beat me. Dehn want I tell them that I do the crime and then I tell them that I don’t know dah who, but maybe I got a clue that dah wah next person. But dehn noh want hear that from me, dehn just the beat me according to that crime right there. I di tell them that I don’t even know and dehn di beat me right there.”

Reporter

“What were you beaten with and how many officers?”

Egbert Ferguson

“Two…then time wah iron pipe and I noh sure weh size the pipe but dah wah nice lee size of pipe.”

Reporter

“Which part of the body were you beaten?”

Egbert Ferguson

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“On my foot, ina mi head, in here; and dehn whap me on mi jaw.”

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“My client informs me that when he was at the hospital they told the police that was looking after him to listen to what he says to the doctor because they don’t want him to tell the doctor who beat him and then after he got the medical form, they took it away from him. And that is why we asked the court to order that the prosecution must hand over the medical form because we don’t want that medical form destroyed because that would be the evidence that would show that he was beaten while in custody.”

Ferguson pleaded not guilty to the charge and late this evening he met the three thousand dollar bail that was granted to him by Magistrate Dale Cayetano. He is to reappear in court on August twenty-first.