Rape case continues in Supreme Court

Meanwhile in a downstairs courtroom of the Supreme Court, the rape, maim and attempted murder of a thirty-eight year old woman continued before Justice John Gonzalez. As News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams describes, today the defence attorneys did their best to punch holes in the prosecution’s case.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

The prosecution called its first witness this morning, Sergeant Santiago Ciau, an investigator from the Crimes Investigation Branch in Belize City. He gave a detailed account of the three ID parades he conducted on May twelfth, 2000. He carefully told the court about the paradees, that is their height, description and age.

In cross-examining Sergeant Ciau, attorney for Melvin Guzman, Oswald Twist, asked Ciau if he took a colour photo of the ID parade. Sgt. Ciau replied, “The police don’t have the resources to so do, Sir.”

Twist countered, “You don’t have the resources to comply with the regulation?”

Sergeant Carol Tucker was the investigating officer at the time of the incident. She told the court that she was guided by Inspector Russel Blackett, who took her through the process. She then told Lutchman Sooknandan that she questioned Alamilla for about half-hour to forty-five minutes.

In his cross-examination of her, Sooknandan said “Are you aware that when a person is arrested, he or she should be questioned for a limited period of time?”

She said, “Yes, Sir.”

He said, “Do you consider half hour to forty-five minutes a limited extend of time?”

She said “No sir.”

He went on to ask if the boys looked like minors to her or adults. She said they looked young, but she wasn’t certain.

He said, “Were their parents present or their guardian?” She said she cannot recall.

Sooknandan also told Sergeant Tucker that she charged the boys for robbery and was asking why. She told the court that the victim reported the assailants stole a number of items from her, including clothing, cosmetics, purses, jewelry and a Seiko wristwatch. Sergeant Tucker told trial judge John Gonzales that none of the items were recovered.

The trial continues on Tuesday when subpoenaed witness Guadeloupe Cowo is expected to testify in the Supreme Court. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.