Wilser Echevarria
Tonight, the fate of eighteen-year-old Wilser Echevarria rests in the hands of Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl-Lynn Vidal. When Belmopan Police did not seek her advice while attempting to arraign Echevarria on Wednesday, they were only obeying a directive from Assistant Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett. Via memo on September twenty-fourth, Blackett ordered all formation commanders to ‘cease forthwith’ any consultation with the D.P.P.’s Office before bringing charges for murder or any crime. But the Criminal Code states that when a murder suspect claims self-defence, a written directive must be received from the D.P.P. before charges are brought. And the Criminal Code overrides the directive from Blackett. News Five has been able to confirm firstly that Echevarria has still not been arraigned for the murder of Panamanian diplomat Jose Rodrigo de la Rosa Stanford. He has, however, been remanded until January twenty-seventh, 2015 on a charge of theft, allegedly of the phone belonging to Stanford. We can also confirm that D.P.P. Vidal met with investigators today and has taken possession of the file. Via text today, Vidal told News Five that, “In a case in which the suspect is raising self-defence, it is the duty of the prosecution to rebut the defence. I am working along with the investigator to ensure that we have sufficient evidence to disprove the defense.” A memorial service will be held for Jose Rodrigo de la Rosa Stanford on Friday.
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