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Policeman in PG Charged For Manslaughter
Tue, January 16, 2018
Last night, we took you to Punta Gorda Town for our coverage of the very controversial killing of 24 year-old Mario Vernon, grandson of the Late Belizean National Hero, Leela Vernon.

The official police version of the fatal police shooting was that Vernon had a weapon, and that he pointed it at Police Constable Tevin Aranda, who shot him in the head, in self-defense. Residents insist that police planted this weapon after the killing to cover up the unjustifiable use of deadly force.

Well, after the public outcry from PG Town, police announced today that 23 year-old Tevin Aranda, a police constable attached to the PG Police Station was, quote, "charged for manslaughter as directed by the Office of the DPP" End quote. So why not murder? Well, apparently, there's no evidence that PC Aranda intended to shoot Vernon in the head. He did shoot him, yes, but the charge suggests that the DPP believes he did it unintentionally, like an accident.

The shooting happened on George Price Street in PG, but Aranda was not arraigned at the Magistrate's Court there. Instead, he was taken to the Dangriga Magistrate's Court, and he was released on bail of $10,000.

And if the police was hoping that this development would help to cool off some of the public outrage and distrust from this shooting, it certainly hasn't, not for the family at least.

Today, their attorney, Leeroy Banner, sent us a statement via text message. It says, quote, "The Family of the late Mario Vernon is flabbergasted to learned that PC Tevin Aranda was charged with Manslaughter, and not murder, when all the evidence points to murder. There are several eyewitnesses who have described to the police in detail, how PC Aranda waylaid the deceased and then executed him in cold blood. The Family finds it strange that the police officer shot the Mr Vernon, who was unarmed, behind his head... only [to] be charged for Manslaughter."

Police Sources have told us that contrary to the official police report, Aranda was not on police patrol. We're informed that he was sent on an errand with a female officer for urine test kit, and that he ventured on George Price Street while on that errand. The community's allegation of the gun being planted remains a very live issue.

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