Is shooting death considered murder?

Allen Whylie

Commissioner Whylie, flanked by the brass of the Belize Police Department, also commented on the direction of the investigation, as well as the subsequent action to be taken against Grant and Vasquez once the D.P.P. has been given the requisite files.

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

“The file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Public Prosecutions will review what evidence we have and we’ll direct further actions to be taken.  So I want to assure the family, I want to assure the public that a thorough, complete, impartial investigation is being done and it will be sent to the D.P.P. for her review and further directions. It’s a criminal investigation because an officer died and an officer was involved in the shooting.  I cannot say it’s a murder because murder needs premeditation, it was intentional and there’s nothing here to indicate that there was any intent from anybody to kill anybody, you see.  So I cannot say we’re treating it as a murder investigation.  It’s a criminal investigation.”

Isani Cayetano

“What about the robbers, what becomes of that aspect of the situation?”

Allen Whylie

“Once again, that aspect is being investigated.  True, we would have lost the person who would be the complainant.  Whether or not we’d be able to charge that person for a robbery I wouldn’t be able to say but we know that it initiated out of their criminal behavior aimed at the person who turned out to be a police officer. In terms of whether or not justified, the investigation is ongoing and, as I said, the file will be sent to the D.P.P. and the D.P.P. will decide whether or not Grant’s action was justified.  It’s not for me to sit here and say yes or say no.  That is a legal issue that the investigators are dealing with and will channel to the D.P.P.  What I want to say is that there is justifiable use of force and harm that officers are trained in.  Each situation is different and each officer reacts differently based on what they see or what they experience on the ground.”