Suspect charged for grenade attack that terrorized Kraal Road
A British type defensive grenade exploded in the final days of 2009 instantly killing a fourteen year old boy. It is believed the grenade originated from a batch gone missing a few years ago from the British Forces and is the sixth to surface in the streets of Belize City and the second to be deadly. Police now say they have the man who hurled the explosive device which also injured two men. The twenty-five year old suspect was detained on New Year’s Eve and has been in custody since then. Today, he was escorted before Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie where he was read his charges and remanded to the Hattieville Prison. Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The year 2010 did not meet Lusby Martinez in good standing, at least not with the law. Martinez is the man police have fingered for the December twenty-eighth 2009 grenade explosion on Kraal Road. He is the man police believe hurled the explosive device from an open lot adjacent to the yard where it detonated around eight that fateful night.
Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“Evidently charges have been laid and therefore the investigators thought that it was pertinent that he be charged. The evidence will be battled in court.”
But the family and friends of Lusby Martinez say he is not the man.
Criscelda Castillo, Sister of Accused
“My brother is innocent, I know he is. All I want is justice. I want this Police Department to do their job. That’s their job to see who is the grenade man my brother is not the grenade man. I know deep down in my heart my brother is innocent. I know he is. I just want the Police Department to work and find who is the correct man for this grenade.”
Marion Ali
“Where was Lusby the night when the grenade was launched?”
Friend of Accused
“He was at home with a friend soh dah noh he. He’s not in no kinda group, no kinda gang bang. He’s a cool man. All the record he have because he dah wah dread man, he smoke ih lee weed.”
Marion Ali
“What do you have to say to the family who are saying you have the wrong man?”
Clement Palacio
“I don’t go in a back and forth with families. It is a very sensitive job that we have and as I mentioned categorically that matter will be presented before a court of law.”
Lusby Martinez is charged with the murder of Rudolph Flowers, two counts of Attempted Murder upon Kenneth Barrow and Leon Williams, and two counts of Use of Deadly Means of Harm upon both men. He will be brought back to court on February fourth. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
The other person to have died from a grenade attack was another teenager, sixteen year old Darren Trapp in May of 2008 on Mayflower Street.
