Photo: Elward McKay
by Roy Davis (freelance writer)
BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 6, 2024
Elward McKay, 35, one of two men charged with robbery and dangerous harm, pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared today before Justice Candace Nanton.
The second accused, Alexander Bainton, 28, pleaded not guilty.
McKay, a resident of Ladyville, pleaded guilty after a jury of 9 was selected to hear the case. His sentencing was deferred to a date to be announced by Justice Nanton. In the meantime, having pleaded guilty, McKay was offered a bail of $6,000 plus two sureties of $3,000 each, which he met.
Bainton is reportedly already on bail awaiting trial.
The incident occurred about 7:30 p.m. on September 1, 2016, in an alley located next to Sky Supermarket in Ladyville. The victim, Tyrone Scott, 37, a resident of Ladyville, reported to the police that his Facebook friend, McKay, contacted him and they agreed to meet in front of Sky Supermarket. He said he met McKay in front of the supermarket and the two of them began to walk through the alley adjacent to the supermarket.
Scott said that while they were walking through the alley, a man, armed with a knife, suddenly emerged from the bushes, approached him and demanded that he hand over his belongings.
Scott told police that he realized that he had been set up, so he handed over his knapsack which contained an assortment of items, amounting to $1,033 in value.
He said that the man with the knife then gave the knife to McKay, who proceeded to relieve him of his cell phone.
Scott said he was told to lie on ground, but he refused because he feared that they wanted to hurt him. Nevertheless, he was stabbed 4 times in his abdomen, once to his chest and once to his back. Also, he received a large cut wound to the palm of his hand.
Scott said the men ran when they saw a man coming through the alley.
Scott was admitted to ward at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where his condition was described as critical but stable. The doctor who examined and treated him classified his injuries as dangerous harm.
McKay was arrested and charged on September 3, two days after the incident. Bainton was arrested and charged shortly afterwards.
McKay was represented by attorney David Morales, while Bainton was represented by attorney Andrew Bennett.
The Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Portia Ferguson.
Bainton is to return to court for trial on April 15.