Manslaughter charge re-introduced against Bou-Nahra

In late July there was significant public outcry after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew all criminal charges against Belize City businessman Ben Bou-Nahra. But the technical glitch that prompted the move has apparently been remedied as this morning Bou-Nahra was once again charged in connection with the September 2005 death of twenty-three year old Shawn Copius. Today the accused entered a not guilty plea to the single count of manslaughter before Justice Adolph Lucas. Bail was set at ten thousand dollars and was signed as a surety by Alfredo Acosta. The defendant was ordered to return to court on October twenty-second. On July twenty-fourth, D.P.P. Lutchman Sooknandan entered a nolle prosequi against Bou-Nahra. At the time, Sooknandan maintained to the media that he did so because the crown counsel slated to prosecute the case, Cecil Ramirez, could not go to trial until he had been recalled as a member of the bar. Ramirez’s status is tonight unclear however as prosecutor Tracy Sosa is now in charge of the case. Bou-Nahra has proclaimed his innocence, maintaining that he shot Copius in self defence because he was being threatened with a kitchen cleaver. However, police have asserted that their investigations contradict the defendant’s story.