Man Charged for Attacking Good Samaritan Lodger, Remanded Over Unpaid Drug Fine

Tonight, 39-year-old Leroy Anthony Richards is behind bars after being charged with wounding Robert Morris Garbutt,58, a Good Samaritan who had been providing him with temporary lodging. Contrary to reports on other social media outlets, the true account of the incident is that Richards allegedly punched the man in the face during a dispute. However, while bail was offered for $1,200, an outstanding $10,000 drug-related fine ultimately resulted in Richards being remanded to prison. 

He appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in Court #2, where he was ordered to pay $4,000 toward the outstanding amount before he could post bail, but Richards was unable to do so. He was therefore remanded to the Belize Central Prison until payment is made. 

 According to allegations, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Richards intentionally and unlawfully caused a wound to 58-year-old Robert Morris Garbutt, a resident of the Bingo King Housing on Faber’s Road in Belize City.

Richards told the magistrate that Garbutt, who usually visits weekly and is normally calm, arrived home drunk on the day of the incident and became hostile, telling him to leave. He further claimed that Garbutt began talking about a man he allegedly chopped up and put in a bucket.

 According to Richards, Garbutt then stood up and walked toward him, which caused him to panic due to past bad experiences with intoxicated individuals. Richards said that was when he punched Garbutt to “wake him up.” Appearing emotional and apologetic, Richards confessed to the court, “I never meant to hit him so hard.” 

Richards’ next court date is set for December 19, 2025.