Court Drops Charges in San Pedro Brawl and Shooting
Norman Coye and Darnell Madril
Two cops are home free tonight after charges against them were dropped in the San Pedro Magistrate Court. The duo was charged last April for firing indiscriminately at a crowd of spectators on the island after hitting a woman. Five persons were injured in the mayhem and the officers were subsequently placed on interdiction. According to one of the affected parties, Alfredo Cowo, in court today, the prosecution was a no show so charges were dismissed. News Five’s Duane Moody has a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
PCs Norman Coye and Darnell Madril walked free of wounding charges this afternoon after Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez dismissed the criminal case against them in San Pedro. According to one of the victims, Alfredo Cowo, he appeared in court on Monday and then again today and feels that he is not getting any justice for the crime committed against him and his two brothers.
On the Phone: Alfredo Cowo, Shooting Victim
“Yesterday dehn mi set it for trial but because of the opening of the Supreme Court mi di happen, they adjourned it for today for eight o’clock. But when we gone deh—me and my bredda—ready fi trial and everything, we deh deh from nine o’clock this morning till two o’clock the evening when they say a prosecutor from Belize City personally mi wah come deal with the case. But when we deh deh di wait, no prosecutor neva reach and the prosecutor weh mi deh deh at the time, he neva want deal with the case because he say that he neva get no directive to deal with the case and so the magistrate dismissed the case automatically. So we neva get no justice or nothing; nothing come out of that.”
The incident occurred around four-thirty on April first, 2017 as patrons of the popular Daddy Rock Nightclub were leaving the establishment; they got into a confrontation with on-duty officers. Amateur video captured the entire ordeal in which officers manhandled a defenseless woman, hitting her multiple times. The outcry by onlookers led the officers to open fire on the group, injuring five persons.
Alfredo Cowo
Alfredo Cowo [File: April 3rd, 2017]
“When I turn around and I notice something just knock me dah my eye and when I touch mi eye, I feel like I di bleed, but I neva see dah what cause as I turn, ih knock me. Afterwards, Coye…he just start shoot up about the place and the bullet touch me. Right now I got about fifteen pellets right now I have to take out of mi foot.””
Enfield Henry (Garcia)
Enfield Henry (Garcia), Shooting Victim [File: April 3rd, 2017]
“I deh turn this way from the street di talk to my son and when I heard the first two shots and when I turn around I heard about three or four more shots…the total dah about five or six shots I hear when I probably get hit. But the police officer he mi di shoot pa the ground. When I turn around back I feel my face numb and warm. And dah when I do my hand so, I tell my son boy I get shot. And I shock, I get shock and he hail the police and tell ahn, “Norman you shot my pa.”
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the Professional Standard Branch Commander at the time informed the media that the officers, who were attached to the Quick Response Team on the island, clearly acted outside of the rules of engagement when they began firing their weapons during the disturbance. As a result, they were charged criminally and disciplinary for their actions.
Keith Lino
ACP Keith Lino, Commander, Professional Standards Branch [File: April 3rd, 2017]
“One PC Norman Coye and the next one PC Madrill. We have subsequently charged the two of them for wounding for the offense that had been committed against the Cowo brothers. The investigation, as I said, is continuing because the police officers will be charged likewise disciplinarily for the actions they had committed whilst out there at San Pedro.”
Cowo fears that he will now be targeted.
On the Phone: Alfredo Cowo
“Lotta people tell me that when dehn bally come back they wah come pay me a visit or ih come shoot me or kill me. And lotta thing and I have to the watch over my shoulders because I don’t take no threat lightly.”
Duane Moody
“So you believe that your life will now be threatened given the fact that you had basically made a report against these officers?”
On the Phone: Alfredo Cowo
“Yeah because lotta people tell me yo know because they bally go bout di talk dehn business weh dehn want do when they get back their jobs.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
