BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 5, 2018–A fight between two bus drivers who work for the same company, Lopez shuttle, resulted in one of them, Manuel Alonzo, suffering a wound to his face and the other, Aldoray Flowers, 35, being charged with wounding.

Flowers, a resident of 1058 Chancellor Street, West Landivar, wanted to plead guilty to the charge with an explanation when he appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. He backed down on the guilty plea, however, when she told him that he could get a sentence of up to 7 years in prison for wounding.

His explanation was that on February 1, his brother, Carlos Lopez, the owner of the bus company, sent him to take over the bus from Alonzo because Alonzo was drunk. Flowers said he took over the bus from Alonzo in front of the Social Security Board on Princess Margaret Drive, and while he was driving, Alonzo slapped him.

Flowers said he reacted by punching Alonzo in the face and head, and one of the punches caused a wound to Alonzo’s face.

Based on his explanation, Chief Magistrate Fraser entered an equivocal plea of not guilty. She offered him a bail of $1,000 and adjourned his case until April 24.