Housewife fined $5,000 for abetment

And in news from the courts, a housewife who was found guilty of Abetment to Commit Dangerous Harm last Monday was fined five thousand dollars today by Justice Herbert Lord despite a plea by Minister of Housing, Michael Finnegan. The fine against twenty-eight year old Delita Chavez was in connection with an incident around nine on the night of July eleventh, 2002 when Chavez’s friend, Tanya Cain, was involved in an altercation with Kimberly Myers. Chavez provided a machete to Cain and told her to use it on Myers. Cain attempted to inflict wounds on Myers but was not successful. Chavez was acquitted in 2004 when a no case submission was upheld. But the decision was appealed and the Belize Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. Chavez was ordered to pay half of the money by January thirtieth 2009 and the balance by April. If she defaults, she will serve two years imprisonment. Before passing down the court fine, Justice Lord heard mitigation pleas from Chavez’ attorney, Hubert Elrington, who submitted a letter from a doctor which states that Chavez is pregnant. He also heard pleas of mitigation from attorney, Dickey Bradley.