Accused in Shoman’s case claim to be threatened at gunpoint
There is a development to report in the case of an alleged plot to murder seven members of the Jose Shoman family. The six persons accused appeared in court today before Magistrate Ed Usher after spending three months behind bars on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Robbery, Possession of Firearm and Ammunition offences. The six: including two Belizeans; Aldo Urbina and Cesar Aldana, Honduran national; Miguel Mayorga and three seventeen year old Guatemalans allegedly devised a mission to penetrate the Shoman’s residence on the Northern Highway, rob them of their belongings and then murder them. But at the hearing today when they sought bail startling information came out. One of the accused claimed that businessman Jose Shoman made visits to Hattieville Prison and threatened them with a firearm. And then, one of the minors sought the court’s permission to change his plea to guilty. But Magistrate Usher could not rule on the matter and adjourned the case until June third. And while the six accused appeared unrepresented initially, Attorney Dickie Bradley today appeared to have offered advice. News Five spoke with Bradley who claims that he was simply sitting in the back of the court overhearing the case.
Dickie Bradley, Advisor
“I was in court number seven for a matter involving somebody else and the persons who are charged for that matter against my good friend, Jose Shoman, one of them asked the magistrate if he could plead guilty because he’s tire of being in the prison and he doesn’t even know what is happening around him.”
Duane Moody
“This is the minor, right?”
Dickie Bradley
“This is—well I don’t know if he is the minor but he offered to change his plea and the magistrate was reluctant to accept a change of plea because a person pleading guilty for the wrong reason is unfair in matters of this nature. One of the charge is the Conspiracy to Commit Murder, which is a very serious matter. In any event, an official from the Guatemalan Consulate was in court number seven and he asked permission if he can say something and he made mention to the magistrate that the accused persons had made a complaint to him; he didn’t say what it was. The magistrate then asked the persons if they had anything to say and they informed him that in fact the complaint in the matter had gone to her Majesty’s prison and had gone to their cell and made threats and the magistrate took it as a very serious matter and ordered his court that this matter be brought to the attention of the authorities. It appeared as if the persons were trying to say something to the magistrate and were reluctant to say so. In the event one of the accused persons did speak out, Francisco Martinez, and he said he reminded the court he’s a Belizean, he’s been prison for than three months and that he said that he wanted to find out how he could get his freedom because he is just locked up, you know, I mean…”
Rolland Parks, Reporter
“So you’re not officially representing theses accused person?”
Dickie Bradley
“No, no, I’m not their attorney. The Belizean person has asked me to assist him because the magistrates said their matter is complicated, it needs—he asked me, I got some information for him and I will send him some documents”.
The plot was to be carried out on December thirteenth2008, but was foiled when one of the culprits backed out and tipped off the Shoman’s who in turn called the cops.
