Brooks questions motives of witnesses; says evidence points to suspects’ guilt
While Trujillo, Davis and West have no doubt as to the innocence of Teul and Vasquez, police Commissioner Ornel Brooks remained defiantly unconvinced. At a press briefing this afternoon in Belmopan, he called into question the motive behind the weekend’s stunning eyewitness testimonies. Brooks told reporters that when officers went to H.T.A. Bowman Limited situated at Mile thirteen and a half on the Stann Creek Valley Road to arrest the two suspects last week, there was full cooperation from both the managers and supervisor Christopher West, and that he now finds it amazing that suddenly these same men are providing alibis for Vasquez and Teul.
Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police
“With regards to the matter of the identification itself, we’ve got witnesses. In the case of Teul, had identified him prior to the incident proper when he was in the vicinity of the robbery scene prior to the actual occurrence. We’ve got witnesses who have testified to us, signed statements that yes, Teul had taken off his mask, wiped his face during the robbery, proper. And we have got witnesses who have identified both Vasquez and Teul in the getaway vehicle. So in effect Teul himself has been identified before, during and after. Vasquez has been identified after the incident.
Teul and Vasquez were picked up, Teul by midday on Wednesday Vasquez in the early morning of the following day, Thursday. All that time they have been in the custody of police: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday sorry, Sunday. Throughout that period the Bowmans nor their foreman had never, never called us or visited us to inform us that there were people who could verify that Vasquez or Teul had worked that day. None of them called us.
At the press conference on Friday we made no mention of who had employed Vasquez and Teul. We did not make any and as a matter of fact Minister Barrow said that he thought that it wasn’t prudent at the time and he wanted to be fair. You people were there. See, and so I am a lawman and I may at times see thing different but really where the law is concerned, but I, the prudency I support. However, concerning the course the public demanded of us, we had to say to the public that yes, these people were employed by the Bowman firm.
And it was after that that this announcement or this radio press release was made by the west, I understand at the Agriculture Show. I would like to point out also that the Bowmans were at the fair throughout the day on Sunday. They didn’t say anything then to the media. But after we informed the public that these people were in their employment then suddenly there are scores of ten thousand witnesses, suddenly. It is our intention to pursue these alibis, these allegations, but we are certain that at the end of the day the character of five independent witnesses shall go forth.
I would like to perhaps, also like the reporter who, I don’t know if he interviewed him, who took the story from him because it sound to me as though it was a story given rather than an interview. I would like to ask the same question of why wasn’t it that Mr. West, if he is so credible, came forward long ago.”
That having been said, Commissioner Brooks continued to defend the police action, saying that intelligence gathered by his men points conclusively to the suspects’ direct involvement in the crime. Brooks also alleged that Teul and Vasquez were picked up and deported on April Fourth, following two incidents in the Cayo district involving guns and moving vehicles.
Ornel Brooks
“The first on March fifteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth or there about on the Northern Highway at which the vehicle belonging to the Cuello’s deliveries liquor service was shot at on the Hummingbird Highway. On March twenty ninth, another incident involving the shooting of a vehicle belongs to one of the mayor out of the San Ignacio, out of San Ignacio was again shot up on the Hummingbird Highway.
At that time our intelligence led us to Bowman’s firm and the residents of both Vasquez and Teul. And the intelligence profile was that prior to both incidents collaborators, other collaborators within Belize as well as across the Guatemalan border, had lodged in preparation for the both robberies at the residence of Teul and Vasquez.
Therefore then, this is the second time in close proximity that we have arrested both Vasquez and both Teul for rum, the premises of Bowman, two consecutive times. In addition Bowman didn’t make mention that his supervisor, one West, was aware of the employment of these individuals and knew where to find Teul. At that time our detectives spoke to West and only West alone and West did assist in locating Teul. And at no time did West or Bowman on that day offer the services of any other person to assist in providing information with regards to these two individuals. We are stating this categorically that they did not offer the services of any individuals neither had he subsequently called the Dangriga police, nor the Belmopan police nor my office to inform that any other person on that farm in the employment of Bowman could have verified the whereabouts of these individuals on the day of the highway robbery. We are sating this as a matter of fact.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Teul and Vasquez had been taken to Belmopan Magistrate’s Court and charged with murder as well as numerous counts of robbery and conspiracy. Commissioner Brooks ended his press conference by saying that the police will investigate the allegations being made by the Bowmans as well as looking into the possibility that the company may have hired illegal immigrants. “Let the chips fall where they may,” said the Commissioner.
