Kirk Anderson says Staine is his client
Yesterday police announced at their press conference into the murder of twelve year old Jackie Malic that they are now investigating attorney Kirk Anderson for possible obstruction of justice. Police claim Julie Staine, the girlfriend of the man accused of the murder has alleged she was instructed by Anderson to dispose of some clothing Mike Williams wore the day Malic disappeared. A.I.P. Eli Salazar visited Anderson’s office yesterday to question the attorney and told News Five that Anderson claimed his conversations with Staine were privileged. However, both Salazar and Police Commissioner Ornel Brooks maintain that the man they have arrested, Mike Williams is Anderson’s client, not Julie Staine. Brooks also stressed that client privilege does not extend to obstruction of justice or destroying evidence. He says the police are taking the matter very seriously and may press charges. Today Kirk Anderson told News Five that Julie Staine is his client since she has paid him for representing Williams. Anderson would not comment on the police’s allegations that he attempted to obstruct justice by instructing Staine to destroy William’s clothing. He also objected to Staine’s detention yesterday from eight a.m. to five p.m. by police when she had been told that she was only required to make a statement. In regard to Williams being charged with Malic’s murder, Anderson says he believes police have the wrong man.
Kirk Anderson, Attorney
“I would wish to just state from the outset that that murder which occurred in relation to that young girl is most regrettable and very brutal. But I want to state also that my client maintains his absolute and unqualified innocence. And at the appropriate time when he has to present his defense he will do so vigorously. We believe that the police are mistaken and misguided in having decided that he is the person who committed this crime.
We hear a lot of allegations being bandied about this about that and the other. What I would want is that people understand that everybody who is charged before a court has a right to a fair trial. I know that Belizeans usually have an open mind and I would ask them to keep an open mind on this one.”
Anderson says that eventually his client will have to face a jury of twelve men and women from Belize City and that the case should be based on evidence and on law. He says that if the case is viewed on these things he believes that his client will be acquitted of the charge of murder. Anderson also maintains that his client was denied access to counsel while detained on March twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth. He says not only did police not let him see Williams, he claims they actually misled him about Williams’ location telling him that his client was at Raccoon Street or Queen Street when he was actually at the Ladyville Police Station.
