Common-law husband faces suppression of evidence charge

A Belize City man accused of burglarizing his common-law wife?s home was additionally charged with suppression of evidence. The charge arose when Jacqueline Welch appeared before Magistrate Margaret McKenzie on Friday, and told the court she wished to drop the burglary charges against Gregory Williams. When questioned as to whether she was doing so of her own volition, she said yes, and the charges were dismissed. However, as Welch and Williams were leaving the court, the magistrate called them back and asked Welch if she was afraid of Williams. She admitted that she was living with him only out of fear and that he had told her over the weekend that he would kill her if she did not drop the case. On Monday, Williams appeared before Magistrate Harry Hulett and was formally charged with suppression of evidence. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of two thousand dollars.