Ladyville Security Guard Cleared of Firearm Assault Charges After Common-Law Wife Drops Case

A Ladyville security guard accused of aggravated assault with a firearm against his common-law wife is a free man tonight after the case against him was dismissed. This morning, 37-year-old Alfred Elijah Bonner appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge. The allegations stemmed from a domestic dispute involving his common-law wife, 31-year-old Zinga Monique Ferguson. During today’s hearing, Ferguson took the stand and requested that the case against Bonner be dropped. When asked by the Senior Magistrate to explain her reasoning, Ferguson said, “Because I have a child for him, age four, and she asks for him every day.” Following Ferguson’s request, the prosecutor indicated there was no further evidence to present against Bonner. The Senior Magistrate subsequently dismissed the charge, allowing Bonner to walk free. Bonner’s release comes as a relief to him, as cases involving aggravated assault with a firearm often lead to automatic remand at the Belize Central Prison.