Melissa Ferguson - she’s Danny Mason’s wife – who turned herself into police two days ago. Well today after her 48 hours expired, the 56 year old was taken to Belmopan Magistrate’s Court and charged for one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping pastor Llewelyn Lucas and David Dodd. The case went before Magistrate Emerita Anderson this afternoon with Richard Dickie Bradley appearing for Ferguson. It turned out to be a mine-fiasco police when the charge sheet had to be amended because the five-page document never once said who she conspired to kidnap. That forced an hour long adjournment to amend the document, after which Richard Dickie Bradley tried to get bail for his client. He said that his client – who had been in Belize for 3 years - was not a flight risk because she had business interests here.
The police prosecutor objected on the grounds that Ferguson is a Canadian and poses an inherent flight risk. In the end the Magistrate noted that other charges may be levied and the police claim to have strong evidence. She underscored the fact that Ferguson is a flight risk, and noted that the offence of kidnapping is not bailable. So, bail was denied – and Ferguson was taken back to the police station – to be sent to the Kolbe Correctional facility at Hattieville.  She will join her husband William Danny Mason who remains on remand. Today after the arraignment her attorney Dickie Bradley told us he is confidence of a full exoneration:…
Richard Dickie Bradley - Attorney for Melissa Ferguson
"We were in court so we heard some of the arguments that she conspired to commit kidnapping against no one. The court had to enter the arena and say to the prosecution you at least need to put a name, at least a name. So a short while ago they came back with an amendment to the charge sheet itself to add two names, the name of one person who really does not want his name to be called out and the other person whom at this stage he is not really care whether his name is called or not."
Jules Vasquez
"Now the defect we saw in the charge sheet is it in your opinion indicative of a case which is sort of a; one has the sense of being in court that it is a case that is being improvised on as it goes along?"
Richard Dickie Bradley - Attorney for Melissa Ferguson
"Yes it's all about optics, I learnt a new word from the prime minister, it’s all about optics. You can't say from early after the most unfortunate and gruesome death of pastor Lucas that you are looking for somebody or that you wanted to speak to somebody; the person comes forward, you detain them for 48 hours and 48 hours 10 minutes afterwards you give them a charge sheet after you told them you'll go home, it's okay, we just need to clarify some matters and so and so. Instructions came down to the police that charge that lady regardless. You noticed she was not charged with murder? She was not charged for kidnapping. Who will come to say she was conspiring, planning to kidnap because she's upstairs in her house and pastor Lu came to the house for a few minutes that meant somehow; you saw what was happening they don't have any evidence."
Jules Vasquez
"From what your client has said to you, was she involved in the abduction of pastor Lu and the other gentleman?"
Richard Dickie Bradley - Attorney for Melissa Ferguson
"Absolutely not; she's as shocked and she can be to hear that in fact there would charge her. From all the advice she got not from only myself and others that there is no way they could link her with the murder or no way they could link her with the kidnapping. She went forth right and told the police that I was at home and that I did see Pastor Lu come. She absolutely knew nothing and was as shocked as anybody else to hear. First time I met her I was trying to get some sense of what was happening she kept on saying I can't believe this has happened, I saw Pastor Lucas that day, I knew something went wrong, something has gone wrong but you have asked the question. If I know I do something and I can go home to my country why am I here going through this embracement, this ill-treatment, that she has been subjected to."
Jules Vasquez
"Unless you can't go home to your country…"
Richard Dickie Bradley - Attorney for Melissa Ferguson
"There is no evidence of that at all and she is a member of a Commonwealth country, she can go to any other Commonwealth country."
Jules Vasquez
"You said she knows nothing of what transpired; something obviously did transpire. Has she spoken to you at all about her husband William Mason, if she believes that or if she is as well shocked that we was allegedly in possession of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas' head?"
Richard Dickie Bradley - Attorney for Melissa Ferguson
"He said to me he was more shocked than anybody else when they found a head in his vehicle; so if he shocked what you think about she? So the facts that transpired here and your question goes to the heart of the matter speaks for themselves. I commit a crime but I'm so stupid I went to hang around until they come and arrest me. No I didn't; an incredulous thing happened, she still can't believe that just now in court say I believe that Pastor Lu lost his head and that her husband is allegedly the principal person. Nobody is saying that Mr. Mason cut off Pastor Lu head you know, they just said it was found in his vehicle; notice that. You will drive around with a man head in your vehicle is an incredible thing."
"Melissa Ferguson is saying over and over and the other lawyers can bear that out she's 100% innocent, she took part in no kind of conspiracy and she will apply to the Supreme Court."
Bradley can apply for Supreme Court bail as early as Friday. We note that a recently promoted police Corporal is the one laying the charges – which may account for the discrepancies brought up in court today. Typically for such a significant case an officer of senior rank such as an Inspector or above would be laying the charges.
Email
Print