Another Protest for Laddie at Battlefield Park
Kezia Arnold
At this time, Belize City residents are gathered at the Battlefield Park in Belize City as they stage yet another protest to express their discontent about the fatal shooting of fourteen-year-old Laddie Gillett by a police officer. As early as five-thirty this evening and until seven-thirty tonight, candles will be lit and the protestors with placards in hand will continue to send a strong message to government and the police department, calling for justice. Reporter Marion Ali is at the Battlefield Park where she spoke with one of the protestors, Kezia Arnold.
Kezia Arnold, Protestor
“I believe that if we noh stand up for justice and against police brutality, another incident like Laddie might just happen. And unfortunately it shouldn’t have taken Laddie incident for us to stand up against police brutality, but I believe that this was the push that was needed for people to realise that we need to come up and stand out against police brutality weh di happen ina Belize.”
Marion Ali
“A few attorneys have weighed in on the charge that was levelled against the police man and those attorneys are saying that that was the most appropriate charge to have brought against him and they also quoted the portions of the law that support that charge and said that if he had been charged for murder, it would have been easier for him to walk away because of the various aspects that have to be proven in such a case.”
Kezia Arnold
“I mean the fact that they gave him an eight thousand-dollar bail and the charge of manslaughter was easy enough for him to walk away, he’s out on the streets as it is. So if that so be the case, that manslaughter was the highest, then why not change it to murder if he mi wah deh pan di street anyway?”
Marion Ali
“Well there are accompanying penalties and offerings such as bail. Manslaughter is a bailable offense or a bailable charge…so….”
Kezia Arnold
“So dehn di try tell me that a youth life only worth eight thousand dollars and a man out pan the street – which is quite unfortunate for our laws in Belize. That in itself needs to be reformed.”
