by Roy Davis (freelance writer)
BELIZE CITY, Fri. Apr. 26, 2024
When former Belize Coast Guard officer, Keyren Tzib, 34, failed to appear in court today for sentencing, and it was discovered that she had violated some of the conditions of her bail, the judge, Justice Candace Nanton, revoked her bail. She then ordered that Tzib be remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until she receives her sentence.
Before she was found guilty, Tzib had been out of custody on a bail of $10,000. But on March 13, 2024, when she was found guilty of attempted murder in connection with injuries sustained by a fellow Coast Guard member, her bail was rescinded, and a new bail of $15,000 plus 3 sureties was granted to her. The bail was granted with stringent conditions. Among other things, she was required to surrender all of her travel documents; report to the Orange Walk Police Station three times each week and report to the High Court once every week until she is sentenced; make an appointment to see the psychiatrist Dr. Alejandro Matus within 7 days, and make an appointment with the Department of Human Services within 7 days. Additionally, she was not to leave the jurisdiction without the permission of a judge of the High Court, and she was cautioned that if she was charged with any offense whilst on bail, she would be brought immediately before a judge of the High Court and that if she violated any of the conditions, her bail would be revoked.
After hearing submissions today from Crown Counsel Glenfield Dennison and Tzib’s attorney, Darrell Bradley, Justice Nanton concluded that Tzib had violated the conditions of her bail, and she ordered that a bench warrant be issued for her arrest. But she did not order the persons who provided sureties for Tzib to pay the amount that they signed for, when bail had been granted to Tzib.
The incident that led to Tzib’s conviction occurred on the morning of April 6, 2015. A Coast Guard contingent was returning from an operation at one of the cayes, and when the vessel was behind the Coast Guard headquarters at Mile 4 on the George Price Highway, about 100 yards from shore, Tzib fired a shot which injured her fellow Coast Guard member Kurt Hyde, in the back of his head with a M4 carbine rifle. Hyde, who was behind the steering wheel of the boat, fell to the floor. Fortunately for him, the bullet exited through the left side of his face and he survived.
Two witnesses testified to seeing Tzib fire the rifle.
In her defence, Tzib said it was fired accidentally.
In determining her guilt, Justice Nanton said that, although there was evidence that Tzib suffered from post-traumatic disorder, she knew well what she was doing when she fired the rifle.
Justice Nanton was non-committal as to whether she would give Tzib a custodial sentence.
Interestingly, Tzib was apprehended today, Friday, when police went to her home and found her there. She was promptly taken to the Belize Central Prison where she was remanded into custody until Friday, May 3, when she will be brought before Justice Candace Nanton to be sentenced.