Rhett Fuller applies for bail

Rhett Fuller

Rhett Fuller for the umpteenth time appeared in the courtroom of Justice Adolph Lucas this afternoon. He went to apply for bail. Fuller is wanted in the United States in connection with a robbery and shooting death of an American citizen Larry Miller. During the three-hour court appearance, the government’s attorney Magali Perdomo argued that it was the end game for Fuller and there were international treaty obligations that need to be fulfilled. Fuller’s attorney, Eamon Courtenay argued that it was Fuller who turned himself into the court and he had never broken previous bail arrangements. Justice Lucas will make a judgment on February twenty first. News Five spoke to Fuller’s wife and his attorney.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Rhett Fuller

“I said to the court we are not in wonderland, we are in a court of law. And there is absolutely no evidence from them that they believe that he is going to run, there is no evidence from the government that they believe that he is a flight risk. And therefore it can’t be that my learned friend says that from the bar table in the absence of evidence. Mr. Fuller was granted bail in 2002 by Chief Justice Conteh and in 2009 by Justice Lucas in an extradition matter. So there is a precedence that bail can be granted in extradition matters. My learned friend refers to the case of Ferguson from Trinidad. In that case, the two accused persons were on bail in a extradition matter. So there are precedence. I think the more important point is that it is exceptional that bail is granted in an extradition case and I accept that as the law, but I pointed out in my submissions to the judge that these are exceptional circumstances. Mr. Fuller has, on each occasion; adhere to the conditions that were attached to his bail. He has faithfully turned up on each occasion that he was required to do so. And more importantly, he turned himself in to the authorities in 2011. He could have run, he could have fled; he could have hidden himself, but no; he turned himself in. And therefore the evidence before the Court, which is what Justice Lucas is going to consider over the next week and a half is that the petitioner has obeyed law, has turned himself in and has given the Court every reason to believe that he will conduct himself in the same way and there is no evidence to the contrary.”

Ann Marie Fuller

Ann Marie Fuller, Wife of Rhett Fuller

“If he had wanted to flee, he would have done it in between the time that the Privy Council had rendered its judgment against him and the time of three weeks that it took for the paperwork to catch up to the police department to get a warrant for his arrest. And before that time just surrendered himself to the authority to be a servant to the law. I would say that that is the answer to the question. And as Eamon has rightfully put it, nothing changed in 2002; they are the same charges, it is the same Rhett Fuller, the same allegations, it is the same international circumstances. She keeps on saying that the foreign affairs office would be greatly compromised because of Rhett’s bail. But I don’t see Rhett being that important that he being granted bail should have any great severe effects on Belize’s international and foreign affairs.”

Reporter

“How is your client doing, spirits wise?”

Eamon Courtenay

Eamon Courtenay

“Well he is in a difficult situation; it is really sad that he gets four hours of sunlight every seven days. He’s in solitary confinement and a very small cell. Let me put it this way, nobody who goes to prison is in a good way, but we are hopeful that he is going to get bail and even if he doesn’t get bail we are very hopeful that his appeal will be successful.”

Jose Sanchez

“It was referred to as the end game by the crown counsel. Has there been any discussion or preparation in the eventuality that he may have to go away for a long time?”

Ann Marie Fuller, Wife of Rhett Fuller

“Well yeah, we are realistic people and we have always from day one—even before we got married, this was always something that we said could go either way. And I still remain the same person, the same mindset that I will stand beside him wherever he has to go, we’ll still remain a family. Everything has to come to pass at some point in time eventually. We just hope that we could get some mercies granted to us along the way.”

News Five will return to court along with the Fuller’s and the attorneys on February twenty first.