Seawell Brothers back in Court; but media blocked from entering court

Mark & Gary Seawell

In court news, the fate of the Seawell brothers, Gary and Mark, is still undecided.  The Seawell brothers made an appearance this morning before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie in respect of an extradition request by the US. An application to have their witnesses called before the court was denied.  But to get that story proved to be troublesome. The officers stationed outside the court did not allow the media to access the court. One police officer told us that because there were persons that needed to be kept secure, journalists could not enter.  The same officer gave a print media journalist a different excuse; that there was no space inside.  The cops suggested that journalists stand by James Brodie & Company. Although the police officers and the security guards said they were acting on orders,  reporters still were able to get a brief comment from Elson Kaseke, the attorney for the Seawell brothers.

Elson Kaseke, Attorney for Mark and Gary Seawell

“In court a while ago, what happened was that the Chief Magistrate ruled that the witnesses who are available in Belize, the court will not be calling them even though we had stated that the purpose we wanted them to be called was for the court to be fair to all parties. The court say that that was not its role. So basically the court say it is not going to call those witnesses and the proceedings are continuing on Tuesday next week.”

Jose Sanchez

“Is there any particular reason why the media was not allowed in today’s sitting?”

Elson Kaseke

Elson Kaseke

“I was not aware that the media was not allowed in the sitting.”

Jose Sanchez

“The officers didn’t allow the media for different reasons.”

Elson Kaseke

“I don’t know the reasons; you have to ask the police about that. We still have to go through the entire process and that’s commencing on Tuesday, next week.”

Roland Parks, Reporter

“You had put in an application to the court what was that application about?”

Elson Kaseke

“What we informed the court was that there were three witnesses who were in Belize, who were saying that they never made any affidavits or deposition to the U.S. government. And we said look in order for you to be fair, we told the court it must called those witnesses—they are around, they are ready, they are willing they are ready to come to court—and hear what they have to say. But that’s what the court said that it doesn’t need to call the witness.”

The Seawell brothers are accused of narco-trafficking and will return to court on Tuesday.