_{Photo: (l-r) Kareem Allen and Burton Clare, charged}

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Aug. 6, 2024

Amandala has confirmed that the two men who are accused of assaulting former Belize City Councilor, Deannie Requena, over the weekend, have been charged with separate offenses.

Requena had reportedly gone to the Belize Central Prison to visit her boyfriend – Jovan Clare – on Sunday, August 4; and it was while she was driving on the highway after leaving the facility that she was confronted by her attackers—21-year-old Kareem Allen and 30-year-old Burton Clare, both of Iguana Street, Belize City—near Mile 15 on the George Price Highway near the entrance of Hattieville.

It was reported that Clare’s Toyota 4Runner hit Requena’s vehicle, which caused both cars to halt, and he then began to accuse her of being the reason his brother was in prison, and proceeded to beat her. While that was occurring, Allen reportedly slashed the tires of Requena’s car, leaving her stranded.

After the altercation, a passerby found Requena on the side of the road with injuries to her forehead, shoulder and back, and she was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where she was given medical attention and released.

Requena later stated via a social media post, “Let it be known, these men are no strangers to me … While one was stabbing and punching me, the other was breaking multiple glasses on my vehicle and cutting the tires, stealing $3,000 cash out of my purse and my iPhone. A weapon was pointed in my direction, and I want the public to know this.”

The Belize Police Department has announced that the two men have been officially charged –Allen with aggravated assault with a firearm, and theft; and Clare with use of deadly means of harm, and wounding. The department has yet to determine the motive for their actions.

The duo appeared in the Magistrate Court in Belize City and pleaded not guilty to the charges, after which they were both remanded to prison.

They will return to court on September 30.