BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. 2, 2018– At a preliminary inquiry that was held yesterday before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser without any consideration of the evidence, Abel Lara, 21, a resident of Ladyville charged with unlawful sexual intercourse, was committed to stand trial in the next session of the Supreme Court, which will commence on April 3.

Before she committed him to stand trial, Chief Magistrate Fraser asked Lara if he had any witnesses he wished to call, and if so, to give her their names. Lara submitted the names of two witnesses, Sheree Robinson and Gerald Abraham.

The incident for which he has been charged occurred in March 2016 in Ladyville. The alleged victim, who was 13 at the time, accompanied by her mother, went to the Ladyville Police Station and reported that on a day during the month of March, Lara had sex with her.

Lara was arraigned on the charge on June 14, 2017. He was remanded into custody but was released on a bail of $5,000 that was offered to him at the Supreme Court.

When his case was committed to the Supreme Court, however, he had to get a new bail, which he met. Lara was not represented by an attorney.