On Independence Day 1999, Belizean Daniel "Danny" Tillett was detained by police and taken into custody at Police Headquarters in Belmopan. A few hours later, while in police custody, Danny died. The following morning police released information stating that Danny died from suffocating on his own vomit. Later that afternoon an autopsy, attended by independent doctors, told a different story. Danny died due to abdominal trauma secondary to a ruptured liver. He had a fractured skull. He had water in the lungs. He had bruises consistent with a brutal beating. In reality, the evidence strongly suggests that the police had murdered Danny at Police Headquarters a few yards from where the Commissioner of Police and the police top officials have their offices. Danny left behind a wife, two children as well as hundreds of grieving and angry family and friends.

On Tuesday 13 March 2001, the case presented by the police and the Director of Public Prosecution, was thrown out of court due to insufficient evidence. The court is not to blame as they only hear what is put before them. A man died while in police custody, at Police Headquarters, with only five officers present yet the court's decision is there is insufficient evidence for justice to be served, something is horribly wrong! Does this case confirm that the police can violate the very law they are sworn to uphold? Unfortunately for everyone in Belize the answer would appear to be YES. THE POLICE ARE ABOVE THE LAW. Without justice there is anarchy and suffering. By all accounts this is where Belize is heading. Why should we sit quiet and wait. Tomorrow it could be any one of us or our loved ones. THIS MADNESS MUST STOP NOW!

We, therefore, call on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to take the lead, show zero tolerance and do the following to begin restoring faith in justice in Belize:

1. To request the Minister of National Security, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecution do what is honourable and resign. With this miscarriage of justice they all now have Danny's blood on their hands. As leaders in this case they should have prevented this grave injustice from happening. They either don't care; or they are incompetent; or even worse, they colluded in a cover-up that allowed the police involved to get away with murder.
2. To immediately launch a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on two aspects. First, the facts on how Daniel Tillett was murdered at Police Headquarters and second, the circumstances that led to a weak case being put forward which guaranteed that no one would be held responsible for his murder. The Inquiry should also recommend actions to reverse this travesty of justice and prevent similar events from ever happening again.
3. Government on behalf of the Police should immediately compensate Danny's family, especially his two young children. Compensation should cover liability for his wrongful death, living allowance for the children until the age of 18 years and burial and legal expenses. It must be noted that not a penny in compensation has been offered to the family.

Fellow Belizeans, we only need a short memory to put into true perspective the impunity with which the police are allowed to operate. The recent theft of weapons from the heavily guarded police compound and the theft of money and drug evidence from the heavily guarded exhibit room are clear insider jobs. This weekend alone we read about Danny's injustice. Then we read about Police Assistant Superintendent Henderson who was demoted due to the accusation of sexually assaulting a woman. And, we read about the police shooting at the Galeano's residence in Belize City. This repeats itself week in, week out.

What can we do? We have taken up Danny's case as he was a friend and family member. We urge every Belizean and friend of Belize, who share our desire to have a safe and prosperous nation with justice for all, to PROTEST LOUDLY TO STOP THE MADNESS!

Please call or write the ombudsman and PROTEST Please call or write the politicians and PROTEST Please call your favourite radio show and PROTEST Please call or write your favourite newspaper or television station and PROTEST Please call or write the Human Rights Commission and PROTEST Please call or write the Attorney General and private lawyers and PROTEST Please call or write the Leaders of your Church and PROTEST. Please call or write the local Embassies and PROTEST Please call or write the aggrieved families and give your support and encourage them to sue the police in PROTEST and in search for JUSTICE. Please use the forum on our website, or e-mail us at [email protected] to share your views. We simply want justice in Belize.