B.D.F. soldier to be charged with manslaughter

The family of a young Douglas villager who was shot and killed by a Belize Defence Force soldier on the night of November twenty-second will have their day in court. While the initial report appeared to be that nineteen year old George Cortez White was unruly with the B.D.F., the Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt has found reason to instruct that charges be placed against the soldier. Cortez was staying at the San Pablo Community Centre since his home village was under quarantine for contaminated flood waters. He is said to have been under the influence of alcohol and was using obscene language at fellow villagers and at the soldiers, who were stationed to provide security. But while the soldiers, Lance Corporal Paulino Pop and Private Paulino Assi reported that Assi shot Cortez after he failed to surrender following two warning shots and had threateningly advanced towards them, the post mortem and eyewitness reports tell another story. And that is why cops last week forwarded the case file to the D.P.P’s office for further instructions. The file includes the statements of three eyewitnesses and the post mortem report. The victim’s aunt, Alexandrina Roman, told News Five that Cortez was shot while walking away from the soldiers. While the post mortem by pathologist, Doctor Mario Estradabran, certifies that Cortez died of lung failure, it cannot confirm that he was advancing towards the soldier. Estradabran’s report also states that the bullet entered the victim’s leg on the side. This afternoon Branker Taitt confirmed that based on the case file, she will instruct the police to charge Private Assi with Manslaughter. The B.D.F. has since recalled Private Assi from Douglas and has transferred him to Price Barracks pending the outcome of the D.P.P’s instructions. When he is officially charged, Assi will then be placed on interdiction until the end of his trial.