BELIZE CITY–A Belize City electrician was charged in court with one count of maim and one count of aggravated assault after he reversed his Chevy Blazer into a man who was leaning against a cement wall, with whom he had had an altercation on Freetown Road on Saturday night, August 30.
The victim’s left leg was completely mangled and had to be amputated immediately.
Devon Jones, 33, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, who did not require a plea from him, because his case will be tried on indictment at the Supreme Court.
Victim told police that after an argument, the driver reversed his car against him while he was leaning against a cement wall
Police charged Jones with the maiming of Francis Gill, 43, a taxi driver. Court prosecutor Corporal Christopher Smith had objected to Jones being granted bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offense and the fact that the prosecution has a strong case against him.
Jones is being represented by attorney Douglas Carr, who told the court that the accused man is a stable businessman who owns his own business and is the sole breadwinner for his family.
The only real issue, Carr submitted, is whether or not the accused will return to court once he is granted bail.
Carr further submitted that the accused has no criminal record and the offenses were not committed with a firearm.
In reference to the strength of the prosecution’s case, Carr said that they haven’t seen any disclosure or any statement from the prosecution.
Chief Magistrate Smith upheld Carr’s submission and Jones was released on a $3,000 bail plus one surety in the same amount.
Jones was ordered to pay $2,000 cash in order for him to be released on bail. The other conditions of his bail are that he cannot leave the jurisdiction of the court without the court’s permission, and he is to report to the Eastern Division Police Station every Thursday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The allegation against Jones is that he used a vehicle, a Chevy Blazer, to commit the aggravated assault upon Gill. The incident occurred on Freetown Road in front of Key Ley restaurant, which, Prosecutor Smith pointed out in his objection to bail, was crowded when the incident occurred.
According to Gill’s statement to the police, he was standing in front of the restaurant when he got into an altercation with a man, later identified as Jones.
Gill told police that Jones reversed a Chevy Blazer into him while he was leaning against a cement wall.
The impact completely mangled Gill’s left leg, which had to be amputated when he was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Emergency Room.
During the arraignment, Carr told the Chief Magistrate that the victim is not known to the accused man, who was ordered not to go anywhere near the victim.
Jones is due to return to court on October 15.