Dr. Naun Bonilla Murder Case Returns to Court as Family Demands Justice

Two people charged in connection with the killing of Dr. Naun Bonilla returned to the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court this morning. Hannah Rebekah Foreman and Edwin Bethran Junior were expected to receive disclosure in the case; however, the matter did not proceed as anticipated. Outside the courthouse, Bonilla’s relatives and friends gathered to demand justice. Reporter Ljay Wade reports.

Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: The alleged killers of Dr. Naun Bonilla were back in court this morning, where emotions ran high outside the Belmopan magistrates court. Shortly after 9am, 26-year-old Hannah Rebecca Forman and Edwin Bethran Jr. were escorted into court greeted by a crowd of Dr. Bonilla’s grieving family members and friends who gathered to demand justice as they continued to grapple with the shocking and gruesome circumstances surrounding his death. On the 29th of May, Dr. Naun Bonilla’s life was cut short after he was shot to death while taking his daughter to school. Bonilla’s murder triggered national protests that helped fast track the police department’s investigation, eventually leading them to charge Forman and Bethran with the murder. Outside the courtrooms stood the family and friends of Dr. Bonilla, who continue to call for justice. 

Brother: “We are hoping to see this matter all the way through here in Belmopan. We hope that the judge keeps this case here in Belmopan and that we all can see justice. And the evidence will point to who the real perpetrators of this crime are. And that’s all we want , we want justice. We don’t want an unfair trial. We want a chance at justice. We want people to know that we will stand here. We will demand justice and we want a fair chance at justice. And the people of Belize deserve that. We deserve that. My brother was not a criminal, he was a medical doctor. He studied, he prepared himself to save lives. That’s all he was doing.”

Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: Foreman and Bethran appeared in court to receive their disclosure, but according to Attorney Arthur Saldivar, the prosecution was not adequately prepared to proceed. As a result, the matter was adjourned until December 4th.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney: “We were hoping to get disclosure and some appreciation of where the prosecution stood as it relates to the charges that were brought against my client. Suffice it to say nothing was disclosed. The file is still not prepared. So we hope on the next occasion that we would be in a better position to know whether or not my client will get justice.”

Ljay Wade, Belmopan Correspondent: Saldivar also shared his thoughts on the protests happening outside the courtroom, cautioning the supporters to not confuse justice with vengeance. 

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney: “We have persons here, certainly aggrieved at the death of Dr. Bonilla, as I believe the wider Belmopan community is, but to invest emotionally in what they hope to see as the outcome, as it relates to persons that have been charged, it is a bit concerning that there may be a confusion of justice with vengeance. And if the outcome is not what they hope I dread that this may become unhealthy. So I’m hoping the authorities take cognizant of the fact that these people are very close to the entrance of the court and this should not be. Nothing wrong with being here to provide support for family members of the deceased but I caution that we have a police that has not had a very good track record in bringing proper persons before the court and I dread that this is the case in this matter.”