Trial against Cabana owner wraps up
Mike Menjivar
It’s difficult for NGO’s to stand up to large scale developers, so imagine what it’s like for one businessman to face the Gang Suppression Unit in Court, for attempted murder. It was daunting but Mike Menjivar was involved with a shootout in May 2011 at his home with members of the GSU. Menjivar spent some time in prison, but he had an unexpected witness that showed up at his trial and gave testimony that could help to set him free. It was a police officer. His defense Attorneys Arthur Saldivar and Richard Bradley wrapped up their closing arguments today.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
“In terms of where we stand, all the evidence is in. the prosecution did its case. They had nine witnesses, all members of the GSU and Scenes of Crime personnel who came and testified. The defense led its case also; Mister Menjivar going on the witness stand swearing an oath and giving his evidence. And I must take this time to say that god is good. God is good cause we had a surprise witness—a witness that was a surprise even to us, the defense because we were not sure that we were going to get that person to testify. But by virtue of a subpoena, she came to court in the person of Sergeant Marla Joseph, a female sergeant of twenty-one years experience, an impeccable public servant. She was the person who was manning the Belmopan police station at the time of the incident when the Menjivars were under attack and called her to tell her that their house was being invaded. She came to court and she corroborated exactly what Mister Menjivar had always maintained that he didn’t know who was outside his house. It was very dark and the persons who came were in camouflage. They sent two persons in a mobile to the Menjivar residence. They were met by GSU personnel; that came out in the trial, where a number of the officers from the GSU admitted that the elements of the Belmopan police station made contact with them at the scene.”
Jose Sanchez
Arthur Saldivar
“But the police department in Belmopan itself, they were unaware of the GSU activity at the Menjivar’s house when the Menjivar’s called.”
Arthur Saldivar
“They were totally oblivious, totally oblivious. What Sgt. Joseph stated on the stand yesterday in her evidence was that Mister Menjivar and the wife asked her to send the police; they called her four times. That on one occasion when she received a call, she could hear gunshots.”
Saldivar says that the Director of Public Prosecutions requested a month to prepare her closing submissions.
Mennngivar was innocent all along. I understand what happened. . Unfortunately is was a hit though good thing it was amiss. 🙂 / as a spear to sheik. To free ee Palestine is to free U.
If you win sue the living hell out of his pm and gov for every 1 cent they have.
This case should be an open-and-shut case. The GSU erred in raid procedure, most notably, they did not identify themselves properly ie with a bullhorn at 140 decibels and beaucoup vocals. But Mr. Vidal is pigheaded (I’ve met the man and I can tell you he’s wearing blinders) and cannot be courageous and noble enough to come clean. Instead, he will insist on ‘winning,’ — which is how he was trained — and will instead countersue so as to put Menjivar on the defensive. If this case were to be adjudicated rightly, the government would owe Mr. Menjivar at least a low six-figure sum as compensation for mental anguish and wrongful imprisonment and prosecution. Make that persecution. The PM is a lawyer. Why doesn’t he pick up the phone. Oh wait. He’s busy strong-arming his bugbears.
@delta Whatever you’re smoking i want some.
the reason the GOB could not serve a judge’s warrant for arrest during daytime in unifom, is ???
flight risk?
guat spy?
had a nuclear weapon?
about to move 3 tons of coke at sunrise?
kidnapped a child?
about to murder the PM?
needed nighttime practice?
it’s the central headquarters for Belizean gangs?
get payed overtime with hazardous duty? bingo!
The police needs to try and figure out which end is up before they go to court and drag innocent people through the leagl system. Just this one honest police who was willing to say things they way it happened gives a little confidence boost to the Belize PD.
is a sin what they are doing to me and my familly…….why the f…. they dont put them selves in my position to feel what i felt that horrible night i not even whant to think about it… nothing will make me forget that and over the big mistake they did they still have the guts to try make me in stade of them a guilty person…. guilty of what? does any bony get a crime delivery to their home where they are asleeep wiht their familly?
justice need to be make…we the people are here to be protected by the police no abuse and attacke for this group of legal killers..
At least it seems justice will be served in this case.
Hopefully law enforcement officers will learn to act on intelligence and not on information. Right now, if I don’t like you, I just tip them off that you sell drugs and have firearms and they will come for you.
Sue the crap out of them for the repairs of your property, psychological stress, defamation of character, loss of business, wasting of your time, legal fees and illegal imprisonment.