Three Men Denied Bail After Failed Home Invasion Turns Deadly in Belize City

Tonight, the three men suspected of carrying out a home invasion and an attempted robbery at a Belize City home are behind bars. The men, 24-year-old Malique Chavez and brothers, 19-year-old Leroy Anthony Garoy and 19-year-old Leroy Smith were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on separate charges. Chavez and Garoy were arraigned on a charge of aggravated burglary while Sambula was arraigned for abetment to commit aggravated burglary. Garoy and Chavez both pleaded not guilty but were denied bail since the crime involved a firearm.  Sambula also pleaded not guilty and appealed to the court to grant him bail, claiming that he had no involvement and that he is not a street figure.  The crown opposed bail on the possibility that Sambula may interfere with the witnesses. The magistrate sided with the prosecution and denied bail.  All three men are to return to court on September 23.  The charges against the men arise from a midday incident on Tuesday where a businessman and his family were held at gunpoint after the men invaded their Freetown Road home.  It is reported that the trio entered the Casa de Churro business, and forced the owner into his living quarters on the upper flat.  A struggle ensued between the target and the gunman Smith resulting in the businessman fatally shooting the wannabe robber.  The other two surviving robbers, Chavez and Garoy, ran out of the building, and hopped into a standby taxi, driven by 45-year-old Harvey Sambula. Quick response from the Police led to the detention of the three men.