Leaked Court Deposition Raises Concerns for Family’s Safety

Portions of a court deposition has been leaked into the public domain that could possibly pose a danger to a family in Corozal.  We understand that a notorious gang boss, who now resides in the United States, uploaded a portion of a conversation between Police and an informant, on social media.  Now, the family members of the informant is fearful that there might bet retaliation.   Police Commissioner Chester Williams has confirmed that the material was a part of a deposition, and that witness protection remains an issue of concern.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “He says it is not a leak per se. You would know that when a person is charged the court does order disclosure and that information was issued as part of a disclosure to a case. I am hoping that going forward the courts are going to be more receptive or cooperative with these investigations that whenever disclosures are given that we would be allowed to blot our certain information pertinent to witnesses not just in gang cases but in every case that may likely cause witnesses to be threatened. We have to find a way. I know the witness anonymity bil which has been passed in the House does provide the mechanism for the prosecution to be able to apply to the court in certain cases that when disclosures are given that we can blot out all information that may lead to the identity of the witness or witnesses so we’re hoping that we can get some enforcement to that and it will help to protect potential as well as current witnesses. So it troubles me certainly as the Commissioner of Police because we don’t want to be doing things that endangers the lives of people and I would hope that when we make these applications to the court the court will not just look at the right or interest of the accused person but also display that balancing act in balancing the right of the accused to know who are the persons who are going to give evidence against him or her with the right of the witness who may be threatened. So it is something that we will certainly put forward to the judiciary to see how to what extent that they can go into accommodating our request in blotting out the information pertinent to the identity of witnesses.”

According to Williams, the department will do its best to protect the family.