2 students charged for violent robbery at Belize Foam Factory

Two tertiary level students won’t be in class this week as they have been locked up for their involvement in a violent burglary at the Belize Foam Factory at mile two on the Western Highway. Forty-three year old Richmon Gillett, the factory’s watchman, reported to the police that about ten-forty-five Sunday night he was at work with his common law wife, Joewana Garcia when they were approached by five men, one armed with a shotgun. Gillett said the gunman pointed the weapon at him and demanded that he open the door of the factory. When he told them he did not have a key for the building Gillett and his companion were beaten by the assailants. The men then broke the burglar bar from the factory door, but before they could enter, the police arrived at the scene and apprehended the two men into custody. Investigations later revealed that the enterprising thieves are nineteen year old students. Phillip Smith of St. John’s Junior College and Leon Burgess of the University of Belize were charged with five offences when they appeared today in Magistrates’ Court. Smith and Burgess were charged with Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Wounding, Harm and Damage to Property. Smith was also charged with Keeping Ammunition without a Gun License for a twelve gauge cartridge which the police found on him. After pleading not guilty to the charges, Smith and Burgess were remanded into custody until October twenty-second.