All this weekend, Belizeans were equally intrigued and horrified with the news that a Dangriga pastor, Llewellyn Lucas had been beheaded and a big money Belmopan based businessman was found with the pastor’s head in the pan of his pickup truck. Not only was it in the pan of his truck, the businessman was taking some drinks at a bar when police found the head in his truck! It’s the most bizarre case we’ve ever heard, and likely marks a disturbing first for Belize.  Yes, there have been beheadings, but a pastor’s perfectly intact head – stored like a trophy – in a bucket in the pan of a wealthy man’s pickup truck!? It is truth stranger than fiction…
We'll have all the details you need tonight, but we start with what's happening right now. Belmopan police are scrambling to arraign the main suspect. He's 46 year-old William Mason, who also has a number of aliases and assumed names including Ted Oulette. Police say that over the weekend they found Pastor Llewellyn Lucas' head in Mason's vehicle. As a result, the cops arrested and charged Mason, 29 year-olds Keron Fernandez and Ashton Vanegas, and 30 year-old Terence Fernandez. They were supposed to be on the way to jail after being arraigned today in the Belmopan Magistrates Court on murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
But, it appears that the investigators were very hasty in the laying of charges in this most explosive murder, that they missed a crucial step. As part of the new criminal procedures, accused persons must be given their written facts at the date of arraignment. We understand that they did provide those but the evidence on the charge sheets couldn't substantiate the very serious capital offence that they were charged with. So, when the men were arraigned in the Belmopan Magistrate's Court, under heavy police guard and shielded from the media, the sitting Magistrate refused to read the charges to them. Having seen the difficulty facing the state, Herbert Panton, the attorney represented all the accused men, made submission to the court that the arraignment be adjourned for 14 days so that the prosecutor could get all their facts together to follow the rules of the court. Speaking to Courtney Weatherburne in Belmopan one hour ago, Panton told Courtney Weatherburne that he police mishandled the case form the outset – leading to a fiasco in Belmopan court today:..
Courtney Weatherburne
"Regarding your client known as Mr. Mason; the head of Pastor Lue was found in his truck. What do you have to say in terms of that part of this case or investigation, why was it in there?"
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"Well I have no idea why it was in there, neither just Mr. Mason nor any of the persons that were found with him. When they were detained at the bar they were taken to the police station. That truck was never searched in their presence so the top brass of the police can get on the media and call press conference and jump and holler all they want. From the very start of the detention of these gentlemen, they have breached every imaginable constitutional rights they have. When they were detained at 8:30 these men were taken to the police station. They were stripped of their clothes; they were interviewed from 8:30 the night to 4 o'clock in the morning. They were driven from Belmopan to San Ignacio in the pan of a truck naked. I have been up here on Saturday, it took me 9 hours to see my clients; I will still not able to see all of them. Went to Belmopan yesterday, when I finally saw one of my clients he was in his boxers. So it doesn't matter what kind of new policing measures they department is putting in place, all of that means nought if in arriving at an arrest you are going to breach the constitutional rights of individuals."
Courtney Weatherburne
"We understand that Mason and the other clients were drinking at a bar when the officers found the head in their truck. Is it Mason's truck?"
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"The truck belongs to Mr. Mason yes."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Sir tell us about the identity of Mason, that's the one in question. Could we talk about that, he goes by several names."
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"I have been retained by Mr. Mason, I don't know of no other aliases or identity as far as that is concerned."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So you don't know that he is under investigation for extortion?"
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"That's neither here or there for me. As far as I'm aware that is outside of the jurisdiction of this country, I have no power to deal with those matters."
Courtney Weatherburne
"The police officers also found the weapon buried underneath a pond at Mason's La Democracia farm as well, as well as the burnt remains of Mr. Llewellyn."
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"Police say that to you, they have not. They are tremendous more additional pieces of investigation that needs to happen before they can conclusively come to that conclusion. So that is nothing more than idle gossip at this juncture."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Can you confirm your clients all have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder?"
Herbert Panton - Attorney for Mr. Mason
"No they have not been charged. I made submissions today. First of all they came here without any facts and wanted to arraign my clients. I made a submissions to the magistrate Ms. John particularly that the facts that were finally brought on the face of it does not disclose any evidence for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping or conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The prosecutor admitted that the facts do not disclose enough evidence to bring those charges. So they were not arraigned today. The matter has been adjourned to Belize City and they have been ordered to be released."
The prosecutor admitted to the Magistrate that the facts as stated before the court could not stand. So, the Magistrate agreed with Panton as defense, and refused to arraign the men. She then ordered the police to release them.
Knowing the gravity of the case and what was at stake, the police apparently disregarded the release order, detained them, and sent them back to the police station. As soon as they were inside the station, they were ordered to sign a release form, and that's when the cops let them leave through the back door of the station. Immediately after that, the police rearrested them, took them back inside, laid new charges, and then sent them to Belize City.
And, that's where it is at right now. The entire media is waiting at the Belize City Magistrate's Court for them to be arraigned, but it might not happen because all the Magistrates have left, the court has closed, and to make that happen, a magistrate would have to be re-engaged. Our news team is at court waiting, and if anything changes, we'll have that update for you.
Email
Print