Email

Print

Briceno was charged with driving without due care and attention, failing to report an accident, and harm upon Christopher Hendricks. He was arraigned before Magistrate Merlene Moody where he pleaded not guilty. Because the charges are traffic offences, bail was not an issue, and Briceno was ordered by the Magistrate to return on April 13.

During the interview, Briceno called out Orange Walk police for following up on this report made by Chris Hendricks, reminding them that in April of last year, a 14 year-old minor drove Hendrick's Ford F-150 pick-up and knocked down the two year old toddler Rachel Chan. Briceno says that police should spend their time pressing that issue, instead of following up Hendrick's report, which he asserts is totally false:

Hon. John Briceno - Orange Walk Central Area Representative

"If the police were interest in justice, we need to ask the police, why is it, that the driver of the deputy prime minister, Mr. Christopher Hendrix was not charged and taken to court when his vehicle was driven by a minor and ran over a child? Two years and nine months on holy Thursday in 2014. That is what the police suppose to be looking at or after instead of going after me with these trumpet charges."

Our information is that the 14 year-old minor was later charged with driving without due care and attention, negligent grievous harm, driving without a driver's license and failed to report an accident.

Our colleagues also did an interview with the investigating officer in that case. He is on record as saying that police were preparing a summons for Chris Hendricks for the charge of "allowing a person to drive whilst not being the holder of a driver's license." Police believed at that time that Hendricks knowingly let the teenager drive the vehicle.