_{Photo: Tehje Vaughan}

by Roy Davis (freelance reporter)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 12, 2024

Tehje Vaughan, 25, a student of the University of Belize (UB), who was charged with manslaughter by negligence in connection with the fatal shooting of her friend and co-worker, Charles Canton, 30, pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared today before Justice Derek Sylvester.

After he heard the aggravating and mitigating factors, Justice Sylvester ordered Vaughan to pay $15,000 in compensation to Shana Bood, 25, the common-law wife of Canton and the mother of his 3-year-old daughter. He stipulated that she must pay $5,000 by tomorrow, June 13, and the balance by the end of September. He also bonded her over to keep the peace for 2 years. If she defaults on payment of the compensation or if she fails to keep the peace for the period specified, she will serve 12 months in prison.

Bood, who was in court, was moved to tears when Vaughan stood up and said that she was sorry.

The incident occurred on Friday, April 28, 2023.

Vaughan, Canton and some friends were socializing in front of Alaska Bar, located on Baymen Avenue, when Canton removed the magazine from his licensed Springfield brand 9 millimeter pistol and began to load the magazine.

Canton put the pistol on the console of his vehicle and Vaughan, who was sitting in the back seat, picked up the pistol and began to play with it. The pistol went off accidentally and Canton was fatally shot in his back.

At the time of the incident, Vaughan and Canton worked at Holy Redeemer Credit Union.

In deciding on the sentence, Justice Sylvester noted that the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating factors. He said that Vaughan and the deceased were friends, and that there was no animosity between them. He also said that the incident is something that Vaughan will have to live with for the rest of her life.

In mitigation, Vaughan’s attorney, Leeroy Banner, said that Vaughan has expressed remorse, and that she has no previous conviction. He also pointed out that Vaughan admitted that she was not familiar with the working of a firearm, and that she was gainfully employed at the time of the incident.

Banner also pointed out that Vaughan cooperated fully with the police, and she took responsibility for her action from the beginning.

The Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Shanell Fernandez.

Vaughan is the daughter of City Administrator Albert Vaughan.