Was Kenzle Hulse Properly Charged?

Kenzle Hulse

Twenty-seven-year-old Kenzle Hulse was quietly arraigned in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, after being arrested and charged for the lesser crime of harm.  The young businessman’s indictment comes several months after a report was officially made against him by a customer who was purchasing fuel at a gas station.  According to Alberto Santos Lopez, he was pistol-whipped by Hulse on January twenty-second, following an altercation at the fuel depot.  Ever since the report was filed against Hulse, the media has been probing for answers, particularly because the process leading to his arrest and arraignment were unusually delayed.  When he was finally taken before the lower court judge, the charge that was read to him wasn’t what many believed should have been levied, since the crime was reportedly committed with a firearm.  During Monday’s press briefing, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie was quizzed about the lengthy process which many believed was deliberately frustrated by ministerial influence.

Allen Whylie

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

“I don’t know about the issue, in terms of how his arraignment was dealt with.  I do know that he was arrested and charged with harm.  The matter was investigated by the Major Crimes Unit.  I think initially it was being dealt with by the Belmopan Station but the investigation or the investigator was inexperienced in terms of investigating crime and so the investigation was [taken] over by the CID.  I don’t want to get into the merits of the case but I will say that there were two witnesses on both sides.  After the investigator concluded, the file was reviewed by our legal people, legal advisor and he was the one who advised as to what charge we believe we could prove and that was the charge that ultimately Mr. Hulse was arrested for.”

Reporter

“Sir, so the case was taken to a higher authority to interview but the outcome of it was a smaller charge and in addition to that, that more experienced investigator never went back and spoke to the victim?”

Allen Whylie

“Well, I wouldn’t know whether or not that investigator went back.  I wouldn’t know because I didn’t investigate.  I am telling you.  You asked me, I am telling you what I know of it.”

Reporter

“So let’s say he didn’t go back, what as a police officer with many years of training… a more senior investigator takes over the case, comes up with a lesser charge but never re-interrogated the victim.  What would you say about that?”

Allen Whylie

“I don’t want to speculate as to whether or not he went or not.  As I said, I haven’t read the file; I would have to ask the investigator.”