Fugitives return, charged with murder
Today was a homecoming of sorts for two of the most notorious individuals in the annals of Belizean crime. From touchdown at the P.G.I.A. to arraignment at Magistrate’s Court, the large and boisterous crowds of onlookers made it clear that for the law enforcement community, it would not be business as usual.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
A team of security personnel waited for the arrival of Patrick Robateau and Leslie Pipersburg this morning at the Philip Goldson International Airport. As the plane came to a full stop on the tarmac, police moved quickly to collect the pair of accused killers as all other activity stopped. Robateau and Pipersburg were officially handed over to Belizean C.I.B. officers by a four-man Mexican security team that had accompanied both men on the flight. Following the formalities, both Pipersburg and Robateau were whisked into a police pickup and taken to C.I.B. headquarters in Belize City.
Crispin Jeffries, Sr. Superintendent of Police
“We conducted the usual caution, interviews, and we were preparing to do an identification parade, but this did not take place, it was not seen a necessary eventually. They were eventually taken over to the court and they are back at the station now waiting to be escorted.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Are you surprised that both Robateau and Pipersburg managed to make it this far, way to the Tijuana border? And do you believe at this point that there are accomplices?”
Crispin Jeffries
“Certainly, we have been picking up a couple of person up in the north and in Belize City periodically because we understand that one or two persons who routinely transport persons illegally to the United States were involved. And we had on different occasion roundup two of them, questioned them, one in Belize City and one in Corozal, and that exercise will continue. Regrettably, the type of questions we posed to the accused persons was not forthcoming, there was not sufficient information for us to act on, but we have other information that we’re working on to deal with those persons.”
Outside the Magistrate’s Court, security was tight and both the media and the public were kept at a distance.
Crispin Jeffries
“Certainly the media was asked to be at a certain position. I had indicated to the media that we don’t want them in that area earlier. This is because there was some information received of some likely threats and we don’t want to alarm anybody, it’s after the fact now, but we realised that there are certain threat levels in these types of things. I mean we’re looking at murder of four persons, we don’t know what could have been other person’s reaction, not the public, who were spectators, but the vicious ones, the victims and the family of victims. We don’t know what they would have wanted to do, we picked up some information and we acted accordingly.”
Robateau and Pipersburg have been charged with four counts of murder, attempted murder and the robbery of close to thirty-seven thousand dollars from the Bowen and Bowen.
Crispin Jeffries
“When I met and spoke to Pipersburg on the steps of the aircraft, he was quite relaxed and the demeanour whilst questioning is the same: very relaxed, very cool, nothing to say. They were visited by their attorney Mr. Simeon Sampson and he furthered advised them and they kept that same cool relaxed way as if though no remorse.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You’re optimistic that justice will be served?”
Crispin Jeffries
“Well certainly we have a very strong case and the D.P.P.’s office has always been a part of our investigation and has been advising us along the way and we’re certain that we’re going to make good strides with this case.”
Robateau and Pipersburg have been remanded to Hattieville prison until August nineteenth. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
