Another scandal for the UDP which went to court today was the March 2013 mauling of the Noh Mul Mayan Temple. UDP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk Central, Denny Grijalva, his wife, his employees and his company, De-Mar's, were all criminally charged for destruction of that archaeological monument, and they've been waiting for their day in Magistrate's Court.
The case was being handled in the Corozal Magistrate's Court for the past 2 years, but at the last adjournment the sitting Magistrate decided after consultation with the prosecutor and the defence attorney, the case should be transferred to the Belize City Magistrate's Court. So, that's what happened today before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith.
But, two years is a very long delay for such an important case, and so that's one of the issues that that the attorneys discussed with the Magistrate. Another issue for the defendants was the transfer of the case from Corozal to Belize City. His attorney Bryan Neal asked the court for it to be transferred back to Corozal, away from the media capital of the country. He explained why that's important to his clients:
Bryan Neal - Attorney for Defendants
"I raise first the issue of venue, because this matter was transferred on Wednesday to Belize City and no satisfactory reason was given as to why it would come to Belize City. The issue for the defence being that there would be unfair media coverage of this matter, which would make it difficult to have fair trial. The chief magistrate that the matter be transferred back to Corozal. So, when we come back on the next occasion, it will be in Corozal. The issue is one with liability and I dont want to get into the case. It is for the prosecution to prove that my client Denny Grijalva and his wife and his company were in act guilty of the crimes alleged and we will see what the prosecution brings. There are certain videos that were not disclosed to us. Those will be disclosed by Wednesday and based on the prosecution's case, we will prepare a defence. But my client maintain his innocence in this entire matter."
Dr. John Morris, Institute of Archaeology - NICH
"It's almost two years that this case has been dragging in the courts. We are very close to getting a hearing. April 20th, we will have a hearing in Corozal. It was brought to Belize City today to clear up some matters between the attorneys, but you know when attorneys get a hold of a case, it usually takes a long time for it to come to fruition. We are happy that we are at this point, going to get some closure on this particular case, because for us as Belizeans and for us as professionals, especially the Institute of Archaeology NICH, it's very important that we conclude this matter."
The case returns to the Corozal Magistrate's Court on April 20, where the trial is expected to begin.
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