Last night we told you about Twenty three year old Allan Guzman, one of three persons who the police believe committed an armed robbery at M and A meat shop on Central American Boulevard in Belize city three months ago and stole two cell phones and four hundred and fifty dollars.
He was charged and remanded to prison because it is a firearm offence. But his mother came to our studio last night lamenting her son's plight. We know, you've heard the story before - an aggrieved mother says her son didn't do it. But Mavis Zuniga says she knows he didn't do it because four years ago when he did commit a robbery she saw him off to jail - knowing that he did the crime, so he'd have to do the time.
Except, that he didn't. He was sentenced to 7 years but gut a pardon from the Governor General because of a grave health condition.
His mother says that condition and the threat that it continues to pose to his wellbeing has forced him to keep close to home.
And that's why she says she is sure he wasn't involved in that robbery on April 11th - so much so that she is the one who took him to the police station last week Thursday.
Mavis Zuniga, Mother of accused
"I don't tolerate any fool, I took in my son personally the Thursday which is the 13th of May which was the last encounter. They hold him for 48 hours, no charges on Allan because the people who claims Allan rob them is out of town. They say they have to let him go because his 48 hours is up. My son did 48 hours; the police deliver my son back to me with no charges. Sunday my son was at home, he just finish eating when he told me that he was going up the street, by the time he was at the third house from home the police trooper came and pick him up, they told him that he was wanted at the station. Now how do I know that my son was wanted at the station because he did not see anything. When my son gave me the charge at the court out of the jail bus and I read it, my tears drop. When I see these charges I have to come out for my child because I know my child. Everybody is not perfect."
Jules Vasquez
"Sometimes we vouch for our kids and we do it because we really can't comprehend the badness that they can do."
Mavis Zuniga
"That is true, but me, Jules, I am with my children everywhere they go because I am their father and mother. I don't have fear for gunshot because my kids are kids that don't stay out on the streets. They are not children that goes to the clubs, so I don't have that fear because when you see that I say 'everybody in' everybody have to come in, that's my rule. You can go at Pelican street and ask anybody about Ms. Mavis, you can hear me early in the morning and you can hear me late at night because I am not afraid of no one and I will stand up for my rights. I am not swearing for my son, but this time I am not with it because if I see him with a phone, he will have to explain to me how he got that phone."
Jules Vasquez
"So now your son is charged with a firearm offence that means he got an automatic remand. He is at jail tonight."
Mavis Zuniga
"Yes jail and I don't know about the gun. Some days I can barely make it to feed them. I don't know about any gun. Where is the gun?"
Jules Vasquez
"But now have you try to get bail for him?"
Mavis Zuniga
"Well I can't get any bail because it is firearm involved that's what they explain to me. They explain to me that I have to go to Supreme Court. I don't have that kind of money. So that means my son have to do his 90 days or when the 90 days is up we will see what happens. I don't even have money to pay a lawyer and that is what hurts me because I say we black people, we poor struggling mother we need to get a lawyer that will be there to defend us and our children. That is what hurts me tonight. If I know my son is guilty of it I will tell him, 'my son, you are going to take your licking.' From the Ministers, they like to say that south side is bad. South side ain't bad. We have good people in south side because I am a respectable person in south side. I can walk anywhere in south side and speak to anyone of those young boys that they can't speak to."
Guzman was remanded to prison until August 16t. Police say he and two other men pulled off the robbery - those other men are still at large.
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