For the past 3 weeks, you've been hearing a lot about William Danny Mason, the man who police believe to be the mastermind in the beheading murder of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas.
So, a lot has been said about him, but what does he have to say? Well, today's midweek issue of the Amandala featured an interview with Mason via telephone. It's a rare opportunity, since, Mason is currently on remand while he awaits Supreme Court trial.
In it, he names Rural Eastern Division Commander Edward Broaster as a senior cop who allegedly reached out to him for donations. But, as you would remember from last week, Broaster told the media that he never spoke to the man except for when he investigated Mason for complaint of land fraud. He also said that he found the ripoff report web site in which a number of Canadians say that he is a conman.
But first, for context we re-air a short clip of our interview with Danny Mason, so that you can be sure that the man speaking to the Amandala reporter is indeed him:
FILE (June 1, 2016)
William Mason
"...We have managed to have tremendous success with our team about 25 volunteers..."
Now, here's that conversation in which Amandala reporter Micah Goodin manages to put a few key questions to him.
William Mason - Remanded for Murder
"I've never met Mr. Broaster."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"You've never met him?"
William Mason
"No... And Mr. Broaster is the one actually sends messages to Hattieville Police Station, Inspector Chan, to get me to donate motorcycles and homes and stuff for them."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Really"
William Mason
"Yeah. you understand?"
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay, so they asked you to donate motorcycles?"
William Mason
"Through Inspector Chan."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay, Rochelle Chan [You mean]."
William Mason
"Inspector Chan, yes, from Hattieville."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay, and have you donated anything?"
William Mason
"I have donated a lot of stuff."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Can you speak to us about your donations?"
William Mason
"I can't say on the phone."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay."
William Mason
"I've certainly never met Mr. Broaster. I don't even know what he looks like."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay, so everything went through Mr. Chan?"
William Mason
"Yes.... Let me say something to you. Mr. Blackett came out publicly and said that everyone, that half the police force was on my payroll. He publicly said that. You see? You see, the thing about it is [that] these guys are framing me and trying to frame me. And I have a lot of information about them."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Can you share some of that information?"
William Mason
"I can't give you details, unless I see a lawyer."
Micah Goodin
"So, you want me to go there and speak to a lawyer with you?"
William Mason
"That would be appreciated, and if you have Mr. Panton available, that's my lawyer... He'd be there at the same time. You see what happens is that the people of Belize, they need answers. And for the citizens of Belize, I am prepared to make sure that they know the answers... You know, this corruption, crimes against humanity, everything needs to stop. There are people who are starving in this country, who are living below the poverty line. I am the only guy I know right now that's hiring people, paying people, helping people, always delivering what I need to deliver, and no one of these police could ever say that I have ever said 'No' to them, including the investors. You understand? Everyone will tell you my character speaks for itself."
Micah Goodin - Amandala Press
"Why should Belizeans trust you after the found this head in your vehicle."
William Mason
"No, no, no, no, no, no, Thats - I have no knowledge of that. I have no knowledge of that."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"So it wasn't in your vehicle?"
William Mason
"What's that?"
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"It wasn't in your vehicle?"
William Mason
"Apparently, it was in the back of the vehicle."
Micah Goodin - Amandala
"Okay."
William Mason
"These guys are saying time's up here."
As you heard, Mason said, quote, "Mr. Blackett came out publicly and said that everyone, that half the police force was on my payroll. He publicly said that." End quote,
We've spoken to Acting Commissioner Russell Blackett a number of times on this topic, and our records show that Blackett has never made any such comment. We're certain that he did not make that comment anywhere else because it is so explosive, that if he did so, it would have been a headline story picked up by everyone. So, the fact that it is a complete and reckless fabrication does undermine Mason's credibility.
So back to the rest of his claims. As we told you, Broaster told the media just last week that no such thing happened because he knew that Mason was an accused conman. Here's what he had to say at that time:
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
"I met William Mason in 2014, after I listened to a report from a complainant and he was given 2 days to abandon the individual property...obviously he was trying to swindle the complainant out of her property."
Reporter
"Sir has the police department, through you, have you guys ever approached Mason for funding or sponsorship for any of your events?"
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
"None at all. I know of William Mason from 2014, I saw the post from the Canadians where he swindled them and I never had any interest or relationship with William Mason."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you ever received any criminal complaint of activities at the Outback Ranch Farm?"
ACP Edward Broaster
"No, I have not... I think it was about 3 weeks prior to the incident of the Pastor, I was sent an invitation to meet with Mr. Mason, but having knowledge of what I knew from 2014, I declined."
Reporter
"How was that invitation sent?"
ACP Edward Broaster
"Through another police [officer]."
Email
Print