Canadian National Threatens Lawsuit Against Belize Police Following Release from Prison

Last week we told you of JR Smith, the Canadian national who appeared on a news station claiming that he was abused by Belize Police, and that he intends to sue. Smith was caught up in a situation in Hopkins where two persons were killed and eight injured. Smith was among the four persons charged for the incident, but later had the charges dropped against. Once released from the Belize Central Prison, Smith went back to Canada, and is not threatening a lawsuit against Belize. Police Minister, Kareem Musa, weighed in on this matter.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs:   “I am a bit puzzled by it because first of all I’m puzzled by the fact that the Director of Public Prosecutions I know that she has full conduct of the file and I would have to take her lead in her guidance on it but I was actually surprised when it was that they dropped the charges against him in the first instance. I was surprised by that because anywhere else in the world you drive the getaway vehicle for individuals who just shot up a nightclub and killed individuals you will be charged and so I would have to sit with the DPP to see what the rationale was in the first place to have him released and so he could say whatever he wants you know but at the end of the day there was evidence there that he was the driver of the getaway vehicle and like I said that amounts to a criminal offense no matter where in the world you are so I am surprised that he was released on the instruction of the DPP and I am certain that if there is additional information there he can be recharged. He was not acquitted of any crime and so people talk all the time about suing the Police Department they are trying to clear their name and their reputation but he cannot escape and get around the fact that he was the driver of that vehicle.”  

The other three men charged in the shooting are 28-year-old, Brian Andrews; 25-year-old, Kenyon Moore, and 35-year-old, Sherwin Moore.