Ammunition case flops; Police armorer is abroad

Leonora Stevens

And while Silvio Espinosa’s trial is being elevated to the Supreme Court, a case against Leonora Stevens was struck out by Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart today. The Belize City woman was accused of having as many as forty-one rounds of ammunition inside a suitcase at her house, which led to a charge of Kept Ammunition without a Gun License. But today the prosecutor could not proceed with the trial because a crucial witness, the Police Department armorer Orlando Vera, is out of the country on study leave. Magistrate Stewart withdrew the charges against Stevens, but it could come back to haunt her. That’s because the police can re-arrest and charge her for the offense when Vera returns since the trial had not started.  In November of 2010, police say they searched Stevens’ house in Belize City and the suitcase loaded with ammo in her bedroom.  She has maintained her innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charge. In the past four months, at least four other persons have been of similar charges due to Vera’s absence.