For the past two nights, 7News has been following the story of Justo Lopez, a 33 year-old tour guide of Peter Ashdown Street in Belama Phase 2. On Tuesday, we spoke to him from his hospital bed where he described his ordeal with police who beat him up after he resisted arrest and bit an officer's finger.
But really, he is wanted for the attempted murder of Police Constable Nigel White in March 27 of last year - who was shot and robbed inside the Belama substation.
Today, he was arraigned before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart. He was charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm, use of deadly means of harm, and robbery, which he allegedly committed against PC White. The robbery charge arises because he is the one who is being accused of stealing the officer's gun after he was shot, which police believe was the motive of the attack.
Because of the nature of the offences he is accused of committing, no plea was taken and he was remanded to Belize Central Prison until February 27, when a preliminary inquiry into the matter is scheduled to start.
In court, Lopez was unrepresented, but he claims that he has an attorney.
According to Police back in March of last year, PC White was on duty and at 12:30 a.m. that morning when an unknown man ambushed and shot him in the chest. Two accomplices then came in and stole his .38 service weapon.
They fled into the night. It is important to note that two persons have already been arraigned in connection to PC White's shooting.
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