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Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Down Syndrome Day

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Stepson, 31, accused of chopping stepfather, 47!

GeneralStepson, 31, accused of chopping stepfather, 47!


O?Connor was arraigned today in the Belize City Magistrate?s Court, where he was represented by attorney Dickie Bradley. He was denied bail and remanded to the Hattieville Prison until his next court appearance, scheduled for August 5, 2004.


Costly, in an interview with Amandala on Tuesday, July 27, alleged that a relative had chopped him three times – on the left side of his chest, his right arm, and his left hand. He said that KHMH doctors have told him that his left hand was injured so badly that he might end up losing it.


Speaking with us from his hospital bed, Costly, who was still experiencing terrible pain, recounted his horrific experience, but was grateful to be alive. He said that the person who chopped him wanted him dead.


Costly told the newspaper that a family dispute that began on Friday, July 23, was what led to the chopping. Costly felt that when the police had intervened in the dispute on Friday, the matter was settled. However, that was not the case, he said.


He explained that an 18-year-old relationship with his common-law wife had gone ?down the drain,? so he went with the police on Friday to remove his personal belongings from the house they had been renting together.


He claimed that his stepson didn?t want him to take out certain items from the house, which he claimed were his mother?s.


On Monday, July 26, three days later, the stepson went to where he, Costly, had taken the items, to another house in the front of the yard, to reclaim what he felt were rightfully his mother?s items.


Costly said he had just taken a bath in an outside bathhouse, located in the same yard, and was trying to get a change of clothes from the house where his things were stored when his stepson approached him and asked: ?Where are my mother?s items??


He said that he told his stepson that between them and the CIB, they had already taken care of that issue, and he did not have anything for his mother in his possession.


Costly said that before he could say anything else, the man picked up a machete that was lying on the floor near him and lashed him in the chest. He said that the man then pulled off two necklaces he was wearing, tearing his T-shirt at the same time.


Costly added that he managed to push the man away from him, but he charged at him again and chopped him twice on both hands as he tried to fight him off.


The man ran away, leaving Costly behind, bleeding. He sought help at the Queen?s Square Health Center, which later transferred him to the KHMH for treatment.


Costly hopes to regain the use of his left hand, since construction work is his only means of survival.

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