BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Dec. 14, 2017–Marcus Garcia, 23, who was charged with the attempted murder of taxi driver Emmeth Baptist, 30, was today committed to stand trial in the April session of the Supreme Court by Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford after a preliminary inquiry. Garcia is also charged with robbery, wounding, and use of deadly means of harm.

Garcia had objected to the case being sent up to the Supreme Court because he said that after he read his disclosure he was of the opinion that it was a fabrication. The prosecutor responded by submitting that there is nothing to support Garcia’s claim of fabrication because there was no previous matter of contention between Garcia and Baptist to suggest that Baptist had reason to make up the story.

He said that at the trial it would be for the judge and the jury to decide, whether it was a fabrication. Consequently, Senior Magistrate Ford submitted the matter to the Supreme Court. She asked Garcia whether he had any alibi witnesses to call and informed him that if he did, he has seven days to submit their names.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on October 16, 2016. Baptist reported to the police that he picked up Garcia and a woman and he drove them to the riverside on Tibruce Street. He said Garcia then got out of the car and went to the driver’s side and pointed a firearm at him and demanded money. He said he gave Garcia $35 and he put his car in reverse gear. He told police that as he was reversing, Garcia fired several shots in his direction and he was shot in his back and on the ring finger of his left hand. He said he managed to escape, and he met a police vehicle and reported the incident. Garcia was apprehended shortly afterwards.

Garcia was positively identified by Baptist in an identification parade. Garcia was not represented by an attorney.