Tehje Vaughan Gets Bail for Manslaughter
Twenty-four-year-old Tehje Vaughan was granted bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars by Justice Nigel Pilgrim for the charge of manslaughter by negligence in the shooting death of her friend and co-worker, thirty-year-old Charles Canton. Canton was accidentally shot by Vaughan last Friday. Vaughan, the daughter of Belize City Councilor Albert Vaughan, was arraigned on Tuesday before Chief Magistrate, Jayani Wegodapola. She was granted bail earlier today under strict conditions. She is required to report to the police station twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, effective May ninth. Vaughn must not interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses, and must not be arrested and charged with any offense while on bail. Breaching any of her bail conditions will lead to its revocation. The prosecution had initially objected to Vaughan’s bail, arguing that the offense is still under investigation and that she could potentially hinder the police investigation, as she works with the Crown’s primary witness. However, Judge Pilgrim granted Vaughan bail, citing the specific nature of the offense and the arguments presented by her attorney, Leeroy Banner. Bail was initially denied by Chief Magistrate Wegodapola, despite Banner’s submission that the offense is not listed as one for which the court cannot grant bail.