Punta Gorda Magistrate Attacked; Police Vow Enhanced Courthouse Security

The Belize Police Department is looking to increase its security at the country’s various courthouses after a magistrate was attacked in Punta Gorda. On Wednesday, Magistrate Sashawna Jody-Ann Thompson, a Jamaican national, was physically attacked by a man who was taken to the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court. The man jumped from the dock area and attacked the Magistrate with a fan. Fortunately, police quickly subdued the man, and the Magistrate did not receive any significant injury. This morning, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams weighed in on the ordeal and stated that the department is working to improve security at the courthouse. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I have said before that there is a need for us to have a discourse about respect. When I was assaulted in Orange Walk people made a whole issue about it. If you assault the Commissioner of Police while he is working then who are you not going to assault ? If you assault the Magistrate who sits on a bench dispensing justice then who are you not going to assault ? And so the police is on top of the matter. I believe the Magistrate had made a report and the police is going to deal with it and I hope that when the matter goes to court the court deals with it adequately. It cannot be that we have people who are assaulting police, magistrates, journalists, and so forth when we’re doing our work and they just get a slap on the wrist and go home. We must send a strong signal that is going to serve a deterrent to anybody who will think that they can do these kinds of acts and get away with it. If he’s mentally ill he still goes to prison and then the prison is going to arrange for him to get the care that he needs to be able to assist him but that shouldn’t be a justification, no.”

Magistrate Thompson was called to the Bar in Belize less than two weeks ago.