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Bert Vasquez Lashed Across the Head By Jasmine's Dad
posted (July 19, 2012)
Accused girl killer and sexual predator Bert Vasquez was lashed across the head with an umbrella by Jasmine Lowe's father as he went to court this morning.

It happened in San Ignacio Town as Vasquez was being arraigned for the assault charged against a dozen under aged girls. It should have been just a routine adjournment hearing - but a modest crowd came out to the town center to see that town's Public Enemy Number One.

Things took a turn for the crazy when Vasquez was taken out of the police van and was marched, handcuffed, into the police station - right through the throng of onlookers.

It was a spontaneous, surreal moment - on another crazy day in Cayo - Monica Bodden has the story.

Monica Bodden reporting
Crowds of Cayo residents gathered once more in front of the San Ignacio police station as they anxiously waited to see the accused child predator - Bert Vasquez.

The crowd was much smaller than the previous time but was just as riled up. And then the man of the hour made his grand appearance - in front of an angry mob of spectators - And while being escorted by police officer on his way to the courtroom - He was struck in the head with an umbrella.

The unexpected hit almost made Vasquez stumble to the ground - as the crowd chanted words of anger.

The man who hit him - was Chris Lowe - the father of 13 year old Jasmine Lowe who was found murdered on June 6th.

And so both the accused killer and the grieving father were in police custody today.

Chester Williams - Officer In charge, San Ignacio
"Mr. Vasquez was on his way to the courtroom and he was assaulted by a citizen. That citizen is in custody and he will be charged for wounding. Mr. Vasquez was then attended to by a doctor who classified his injuries as wounding."

A doctor was quickly called to Vasquez's aid and classified his injuries as wounding. We understand he received 6 stitches.

But While all that was happening the crowd refused to move until Lowe was released.

Monica Bodden
"So you are going to wait out here until they release Mr. Lowe?"

Juliana Guerra - Resident
"Of course we will. We will and if they don't release Mr. Lowe we will go into that police station and we will make sure that Mr. Lowe is out. We are tired of crime. They are protecting this criminal and incarcerating people that are fighting for their rights - Mr. Lowe is fighting for his rights, that's his daughter - he has all the right to react like that."

Resident
"We will not go until they release him."

Monica Bodden
"What if he is not release today?"

Resident
"We will stay here until they release him. If we have to sleep here we will sleep here, but we are leaving when he is out."

Juliana Guerra - Resident
"Ma'am I almost got him, I was a little too short. I couldn't put the rope around his neck, the police push me and I will press charges because he pushed me. The police pushed me away - he pushed my breast and that is something serious. I am not justify with what happen today honestly because they are protecting this criminal because he got a little scratch - that's nothing compared to what he have done. Look at how the police they went for Mr. Lowe, they even tore the man shirt - to do something like that, they could have easily come and tell him.... but they grab him, they tore his shirt like he is the criminal. We are not satisfied with that; we won't take no more like that. They have Mr. Lowe lock-up. We want him out and we want Mr. Bert Vasquez so we can hang him."

Chris Lowe was detained by police and charged with wounding of his daughter's accused murder. He was later released on a police bail but is to appear back in court on Tuesday. In the Meanwhile Bert Vasquez was taken back to the Hattieville prison until August 8th.

Chester Williams
"He was arraigned on the previous charges of common assault and what we did today was grant him disclosure in relation to 4 of the matters and we had further adjourned the matter until the 8th of August at which time we are hoping to commence persecution."

He next appears in court on August 8th. at which time prosecutions will commence on the summary matters.

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