Four students and a teacher, accused of capturing and beating a Black Howler monkey to death at the Belize High School of Agriculture in Orange Walk on March 5 last year, appeared before Magistrate Merlene Moody of the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of unlawful hunting.

Police said that several witnesses, including Forest Department officials Wilbur Sabido and Daniel Chi, gave evidence in court on behalf of the prosecution. The court has not yet concluded its case.

Information is that after the brutal beating of the monkey, which was reportedly captured on tape, the animal was taken to Wildtracks, an animal sanctuary in Sarteneja, in an effort to save him, but he died shortly after.

The Forest Department launched an investigation into the act of cruelty, which led to the arrest of the teacher and the students and the charges of unlawful hunting. If found guilty of the offences, they can expect a fine of $1,000 or a jail sentence of 6 months.