Luis Campos claims police brutality while in custody for Murder investigations
Friday, May 15th, 2015
23-year-old Luis Campos, who was recently charged for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, is claiming police brutality while in custody during the investigation that led to the charges. Campos, 19-year-old Mark Arzu and 18-year-old Santos Garcia were charged jointly in the murder of 42-year-old Jose Rigoberto Beltran who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday, April 28th. After being remanded to the Belize Central Prison to await the first hearing, Campos’ attorney made the scandalous declaration that his client had allegedly been physically abused by police.
In an interview in Belize City, attorney-at-law Oscar Selgado stated that police used excessive force on his client and as such, his testimony should not stand in court. Campos is claiming that Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, currently stationed in San Pedro Town, was the one who arranged the beating.
Luis Campos
“On Wednesday, April 29th at around 2PM I was called out to San Pedro by my clients, the Campos family. The reason for that is because Luis Campos was detained by police following a murder investigation. My client was a person of interest by the police. Broaster himself entered into the Campos’ residence at the San Juan area, the home of Moses Campos Sr. and demanded that my client be handed over to the police. The house was searched and Campos was not found. However, a younger brother was seen in the house and Broaster made the comment to them that if Campos was there, ‘he would have shot him in their presence and they would not have been able to do anything about it because he is a murderer and he is wanted by the police for murder.’ When my client relayed that sort of information to me, it angered me because I have been to the media before, I have spoken to Broaster himself before, I have spoken to the Commissioner of Police, I have spoken to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in regards to the police’s use of unjustifiable force in getting information from citizens and this was another incident. My client was eventually found by Broaster and his team. He was taken to an area north of Ambergris Caye where he was severely beaten by the police. I am informed that the police took a sponge and they wrapped it around him while the beat him on his hands chest and back. He was kicked on his face several times, he wore braces and the braces cut the internal part of his mouth and under lips. His eyes were bloodshot red because he was pepper sprayed. His face was severely swollen,” said Selgado in an interview with Channel 5 News in Belize City.
While there is no proof of the allegation made by Selgado, The San Pedro Sun did contact Broaster for a comment. Broaster stated that the matter has been passed on to his attorneys, and once the allegations are cleared by his attorneys a statement will be released.
Please help support Local Journalism in Belize
For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.
Click to DonateFollow The San Pedro Sun News on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS
the islanders call for justice.. and when it is given to him people complain .. he is a murderer and his family is single handedly responsive for 80% of the crime on the island .. if you want to rid the crime you have to rid the source .. they chose to partake in what they do .. peace will only come if this family is taken out .. big ups to mr. Broaster and his team .. kill them all .. let us have our island back.
Justice indeed. Send him off to Ladyville and see how he does there.
No mercy for the bad if they want it,
no mercy for the bad if they plead,
no mercy for the bad if they need it,
no mercy from me.
AC/DC – Inject the Venom
Luis Campos was grinning when he was escorted out of San Pedro Town. Even if he was beaten I don’t think any body cares. We need to get rid of them for good.
That attorney is just inventing stories to get his client out of trouble. If he is a real attorney, he is not supposed to be trying the case through the media. I read his stupid comments on Channel 5 where he is functioning as the defense attorney, judge, and jury in one. He is also trying to condemn Mr. Broaster who can do a lot better than him.
Looks like I need to open a law school in Belize and be the professor myself to get these attorneys up to standard.