Charges dropped against City Councillor

Two weeks ago, a quarrel over a political sign caused quite a scene on Freetown Road and left three people charged with a crime. Tonight one of those accused is breathing a little easier as his attorney successfully argued to have the charge dropped. City Councillor Mark King was initially arrested for using indecent words against Senior Superintendent of Police Chester Williams. But today his attorney Michael Peyrefitte convinced Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie that because King used the obscenity as an adjective it was not an indecent word under the law. Police Prosecutor Ludwig Castillo attempted to prove that the word King used was morally and legally offensive to Williams as he attempted to perform his duties but McKenzie sided with Peyrefitte. On November twelfth, King, Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya and several other council employees were intent on removing a political sign illegally erected by the People’s United Party when the police intervened, maintaining that any infraction of the law was to be handled by the court and not a chainsaw. The chainsaw operator, James Suazo, and UDP activist Goldburne “Easy Glenn” Adolphus were also charged as a result of the incident and their cases are still pending.