7 News Belize

Raul Magana Jr Charged For Causing Traffic Fatality of Wife & Child
posted (March 17, 2015)
On April 28, 2014 - Raul Magana Jr was behind the wheel when the Toyota Prado he was driving ran off the Phillip Goldson Highway at mile 27 and flipped. The accident killed both passengers who were his infant son and his wife. And while living with the grief of that loss might seem to be punishment enough - today Magana got more heaped upon him when he was charged with 2 counts of manslaughter by negligence, 1 for the death of his wife, 28 year-old Lissa Li, and the other for the death of his 3 year-old son, Raul Lee Magana. He was also charged with 2 counts of causing death by careless conduct, and he was arraigned on all 4 of these charges in the Magistrate's Court.

He was pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail of $1,500, which he was able to meet. He and his attorney spoke with reporters outside of court about the decision by police to charge him at this time:

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Raul Magana Jr.
"This morning Raul Magana was charged with the death of his wife and his son, which occurred on April 28, 2014 almost a year after the incident. I don't know what lead the police so much time to bring these charges now, but it seems that in this country now, we are losing way, we are losing our heart and our soul. If the father of the victims of this accident is now face in the criminal courts and face prison time - It's a very sad day in Belize."

Monica Bodden
"Tell us about the charges?"

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Raul Magana Jr.
"He has been charged with causing death by careless conduct and is charged with manslaughter by negligence. Two counts; one counts of his wife Lissa Li and the other count is for his son, which has his name Raul Magana Jr."

Monica Bodden
"Many would say that this is an unjustice to Mr. Magana."

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Raul Magana Jr.
"Well, that is for the public. My job as the attorney, is to make sure in court, that whatever the prosecution alleges, they can prove it and that is what we intend to do."

Reporter
"Were you aware that the police had any intention of charging you for this accident?"

Raul Magana Jr. - Charged with Manslaughter
"I just found this out last week - they informed me about it. I contacted Mr. Neal for him to represent me."

Reporter
"After the accident, it's been like almost a year or so, since the accident, were you ever contacted by the police to get any statement?"

Raul Magana Jr. - Charged with Manslaughter
"I did give a statement on the night of the accident. Other than that, no. That's was about it."

Bryan Neal - Attorney for Raul Magana Jr.
"He was admitted to bail in the sum of $1,500 and he is to return to court on June 30th, when disclosure will be given. At that time I will peruse the file and prepare his defence. We are to have the PI on the 20th July and my hope is that before that time, someone, somewhere in a position of authority can withdraw this matter from the court, so that he doesn't have to face the court and face prison time."

As you heard, his attorney is hoping that the police or the prosecuting authority will decide to discontinue the criminal against him before it gets to the stage where he will have to actually face trial.

He hopes that the prosecutor will look into the nature of the case and all the evidence. What will that evidence look like? Well, Magana explained today that he gave a statement to police shortly after the accident. A few hours later, he had the courage to speak with us about how it unfolded, even while the grief was fresh. For context, we revisit a few portions of that interview from April 29, 2014:

File: April 29, 2014
Raul Magana - Driver of the Vehicle
"I was at home and I was trying to get rid of a vehicle that I was supposed to take to Orange Walk, so we decide to take this vehicle to Orange Walk to drop it and turn back and on the way coming down driving before mile 27 we were talking inside the car and I felt something funny so all us of decide to pull over, but by the time I attempt to pull over the tire had completely exploded on me and I guess because the vehicle is high and it land on the rim - the whole vehicle just swerve completely across the highway and it was about to hit a lamp post. I tried avoiding the lamp post and that was when the vehicle started to turn over. I didn't even know when they got out of the car. I realize they were not beside me when the car stop and I look to my side and hollered for them and I notice they were not inside the car beside me anymore, so me and the passenger at the back came out of the car and we started to scream and look for her, that is when I found her like 5 feet beside me in the bushes. She looks like she dies on impact and the baby was trying to gasp for air but I couldn't do anything for her, I tried to move him and other people there were telling me no."

The case goes back to court on April 20. We'll keep following the case and update you accordingly.

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