B.D.F. soldier charged with Manslaughter

Also in court, a B.D.F. soldier from Big Falls, Toledo who was on duty providing security to flood victims tonight finds himself charged with Manslaughter for causing the death of a civilian on November twenty-second. Orange Walk police have arrested and charged twenty year old Private Paulino Assi for shooting Douglas Villager, nineteen year old George Cortez. The incident occurred at the San Pablo Center where Cortez was staying while his own village was under quarantine for contaminated flood waters. Cortez was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and was using obscene language at fellow villagers and at Assi and Lance Corporal Paulino Pop who were on duty. Both soldiers reported that Cortez failed to surrender following two warning shots and had advanced towards them. But D.P.P. Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt said the evidence tells a very different tale.

Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt, D.P.P.
“I directed the police in Orange Walk that he be charged with Manslaughter.”

Marion Ali
“You have sufficient evidence against him that this charge can sustain in court?”

Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt
“Yes, yes certainly.”

Marion Ali
“It’s based on what witnesses, circumstancial…”

Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt
“Yes, on the statements of the witness that at the time the deceased was retreating rather than attacking the officer so that we do have to say that it was an in justification for having shot him.”

Marion Ali
“So he should be charged when?”

Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt
“Well, I’ve given the directive so that he should have already have been charged.”

Marion Ali
“And the post mortem report is also supportive of this?”

Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt
“The post mortem report tells us the place where the injury was sustained, the forensic examiner was not able to confirm for us in what position the deceased would have been standing at the time that he was shot but we have eyewitness evidence that will fill in the gaps because the forensic evidence does not dispute what the eyewitness is saying.”

Assi was offered and met bail of six thousand dollars and is to reappear in the Orange Walk Magistrates’ Court on January sixth, 2009.