Bail granted for man who discharged gun in public

Hopeton Westby Jr

Last week Monday, we reported that Belize City Fisherman, Hopeton Westby Jr. had pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in public while under the influence of alcohol. Westby was not sentenced forthwith because the alcohol level had not been certified. But he subsequently changed his plea to not guilty which meant that bail could not be granted under the Firearms Act. His attorney Dickie Bradley, however, applied to the Supreme Court and Justice Herbert Lord granted Westby bail of five thousand dollars plus one surety of the same amount. Bradley submitted on Westby’s behalf that the weapon was licensed and that he had reasonable grounds to discharge the firearm because he was protecting himself. While his next hearing is on July seventh, Westby’s bail conditions require him to report to the clerk of court every Monday until the case is heard. The shooting occurred at around five-twenty a.m. on June twelfth near the Memorial Park. Police arrived on the scene and reportedly found Westby sitting on the sea wall with the loaded gun lying on the ground about six feet away.  One expended shell was also discovered in the area.   Police say Westby had been drinking and so he was taken to the K.H.M.H. where blood and urine samples were taken for testing. Those results are still pending.