The sad cases of sexual violence in Belize continue, and the latest, occurring right here in the city, is a true shocker.
A nine-year-old student, who according to our reports is slightly mentally handicapped but otherwise physically healthy, in the presence of her guardian, reported to police at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where she is recovering, that earlier that day at about 7:00 a.m., she had left the Special Education Center offices on Freetown Road when a man called to her, “Come ya!” She described him as tall, black and wearing dreads, and sporting a big belly.
She refused, but said that the man pulled her into a house on Freetown Road and had anal intercourse with her. A subsequent medical examination confirmed the charge. Police have detained one man, Eric Mills, 53, a taxi operator of Freetown Road, pending charges.
According to the child, this is not the first time something like this has happened to her; a prior incident with a fellow student took place when she was eight years old in a school bathroom.
Late this evening, Amandala spoke with a worker at the Special Education Center, who gave us their view on the day’s sad events. He told us that the SEC’s staff does not believe that the individual detained committed the act, but someone else did, and has done it before to at least one other little girl.
He also denied the little girl’s report that someone had had anal intercourse with her in the school’s bathroom, arguing that no one could have opportunity to do so with the strict supervision that the Center has.