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Special Envoy’S Bodyguard Arraigned For Murder Of Nicaraguan Laborer

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Ryon Wagner

Special Patrol Unit Officer Ryon Wagner, the bodyguard assigned to the Prime Minister’s wife, Kim Simplis Barrow, was arraigned in the Belmopan Magistrate Court this morning on a single charge of murder. The disturbing story of an intoxicated policeman allegedly putting two bullets in the head of Nicaraguan Eduardo Sanchez Perez has gone somewhat under the radar. Wagner and two other persons, one of them a Police officer, went into the Belmopan Police Station at around two Saturday morning. They were drinking, and reported that an incident had occurred in which somebody was shot. That’s when an argument allegedly broke out as to who was the triggerman – with the two other men claiming that Wagner was the one who did the shooting. We haven’t been able to find out why the Police did not go out immediately to investigate that incident, though we are told that because the men were intoxicated they weren’t taken seriously. Just a few hours after, the body of Sanchez Perez would be found dumped on the Young Gial Road in Teakettle. This morning, Wagner was in good spirits when he appeared in the Courtroom of Magistrate Adolph Lucas. His attorney, Michael Peyrefitte, told us that despite those stories going around, Wagner maintains that he is innocent.

 

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney for Ryon Wagner

“Right now we just have a charge sheet. On a charge of murder a plea isn’t even taken. The Magistrate doesn’t even ask you if you are guilty or not guilty. That’s for the Supreme Court if it gets to that level. What we have here is a single charge and the matter has been adjourned to November second. And essentially what it is now is a waiting game to see what evidence the Police will bring against Mr. Wagner if they have any.”

 

Reporter

“So at this point you’re presented with no evidence at all against him?”

 

Michael Peyrefitte

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Michael Peyrefitte

“We are presented with a charge sheet saying they are charging him with the murder of Mr. Sanchez. But in terms of evidence anybody will tell you that it’ll be a good six months to a year before we see what they have, if they have anything against Mr. Wagner. Of course you will hear all kinds of stories but none of that means anything until we get the actual evidence from the Police in the form of disclosure.”

 

Reporter

“Now your client is a Police officer. Could you tell us a little bit about his demeanour right now because it is very rare that we have Policemen charged for murder?”

 

Michael Peyrefitte

“Well he is fairly cool and calm. He maintains his absolute innocence. At this point naturally I can’t reveal the conversations we have had but he seems as I said cool and calm and I’ve explained the process to him. He knows the process. He is a Corporal of Police and he understands fully well that there’s not much we can do in terms of fighting the case until we receive the evidence that they supposedly have against him.”

 

As was indicated via press release on Monday, there is an internal investigation taking place. It is expected that at the end of that investigation disciplinary charges could be brought against the Police Officer who was with Wagner.


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