Beefed Up Security at High Court Following Daring Escape
This morning at the High Court in Belize City, over a dozen armed police officers were present for several high-profile matters that were before the judiciary, including a pair of life sentences that were handed down to siblings Delson and Tionne Paguada. We’ll tell you more about that judicial outcome elsewhere in our newscast, but tonight we begin with the show of numbers by the Belize Police Department in the wake of a daring escape from lawful custody by a pair of inmates two weeks ago. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with our first story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
There’s heightened police presence at the High Court today where armed members of the GI3 stand ready, as they cover the perimeter adjacent to Battlefield Park. In this instance, an inmate from the Belize Central Prison is being brought in for sentencing. Shackled and bound at the wrists, thirty-two-year-old David Gonzalez is escorted to Courtroom No. 3, the chamber of Justice Ricardo O’Neil Sandcroft. He has been convicted of the murder of his wife back in October 2020 and is awaiting the final phase of trial.
Myra Guzman
Myra Guzman, Sister of Deceased
“It’s been like a living hell here. Every time I come here, I don’t know if you see my body but it shakes a lot, so much anger I gave against this guy and I’m just thankful that justice has been served and they’ve already found him guilty. I thought that the system would fail us once again, but they did their very best and I’m just happy that this happened.”
For Myra Guzman whose sister, Marisela Gonzalez, was slain at the hands of her husband, three years ago in San Pedro, it’s a bittersweet outcome. Despite the fact that his sentencing has been adjourned to Thursday and she may not be able to attend the session, Myra takes comfort in knowing that her sister’s killer will be put away for a very long time.
Myra Guzman
“I’m just curious about how much years he will get, but I just hope that it’s enough to see his baby grow up far away from him.”
Isani Cayetano
“How has the family been coping with this? I mean, to see a loved one get taken away in such a cruel manner, how have you guys been able to find some kind of closure aside from the judicial process?”
Myra Guzman
“Well, we haven’t been so great since then. My parents are the ones feeling it the most because like they kind of distance themselves. My dad’s been drinking, after what happened and he didn’t use to drink.”
On the other hand, the ramped up police presence here feels like an afterthought. It was only two weeks ago that a pair of inmates, including Jessie Mejia, escaped from the jury room on the lower flat of the High Court building. Mejia was recaptured later that same day. His accomplice, thirty-six-year-old Hildebrandt Codd, who stood trial for the murder of Densmore Bowman and was awaiting a decision, remains on the lam. He is also due back in court tomorrow, but it is likely that a decision will be handed down in his absence. Since that unfortunate incident on December fifth, the police department, having suffered a terrible black eye, is taking no chances. Every effort is being made to ensure that Gonzalez cannot take flight. Nonetheless, the toll that the entire judicial process has taken on Gonzalez’s family is quite heavy.
Myra Guzman
“We’re not doing well, but, I mean, with what happened the other day with him being guilty, I think my family is feeling a bit better now, but we’re still going through this. I mean, that was the first person, close family member that we lost, so I don’t know how we can learn to live with that.”
Isani Cayetano
“And you’ve been here virtually every session.”
Myra Guzman
“Yeah, of course. My parents, they can’t make it. My mom, for example, whenever she sees David, she would faint or, you know, like start crying. So I just ask her to stay at home better, especially with a lot of threats that we get from, that we know that are happening. So I just tell her [that] if something happens to me, it’s me, right. But if something happens to her, who will take care of the kids. So it’s just better for her to stay at home.”
Turning back to the procedures that have since been put in place in the wake of the recent escape. Inmates are now being held in another room on the second floor of the building. While Gonzalez was accompanied into the courtroom by a detail of officers, once inside, he was unchained before taking the stand. The officers never left his side. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
