Rape Case Against Belize City Man Discontinued as Victim Declines to Testify

Tonight, a Belize City man who was accused of rape is free after the case against him was discontinued in the High Court. 27-year-old Michael Flowers was charged with rape in connection with an alleged incident dating back to October 2022. The alleged victim, a 17-year-old high school student at the time, reported to police that she was raped after a night out. She told police she had been at Eruption Night Club and later woke up partially clothed in an abandoned vehicle. Flowers’ case has been winding its way through the courts for over two years. In 2023, the case was committed to the High Court for trial. Earlier this month, Justice Derick Sylvester set the trial date for February 10. However, Flowers failed to appear on time, resulting in him being remanded to the Belize Central Prison overnight. This morning, Flowers appeared in court, only to learn that the case against him had been discontinued. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was forced to enter a nolle prosequi, meaning they will not pursue the charges, because the complainant, the alleged victim, declined to testify against Flowers. Police investigations revealed that the complainant had attended a wake and then gone to Eruption Night Club. She reported losing consciousness at the club. A concerned neighbor had also reported seeing a man and woman walking along the Phillip Goldson Highway and that the man had tried to open his gate. The neighbor identified the man as Michael Flowers. A medical examination was conducted on the complainant, which led to Flowers being charged with rape. Flowers was represented by Attorney Ronell Gonzalez.