Posted December 7, 2015. 6:05pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: Late last week we reported on an investigation into the home invasion in Burrell Boom, which involved Belize’s honorary consul to Lebanon, 77 year old Sarkis Abou Nehra.
The caretaker of the residence of told police that between 8:00 Thursday night and 3:00 a.m.Friday morning he and his spouse were held up at gunpoint by eight individuals.
Brandon Baptist
Though it is not clear by whom, the caretaker’s spouse was reportedly sexually assaulted before the group fled in a silver Mercedes Benz with consular license plates which was later found abandoned in Belize City on Saint Joseph Street. According to Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, Officer Commanding Eastern Division Rural, the culprits had done reconnaissance on the property.
Sr. Supt. Broaster stated that one unmasked culprit gained access to the premises; after which the others were free to enter.
According to the caretaker he was tied up and the group searched the residence. They took 6 firearms, jewelry, ten thousand Belize dollars in cash and fifteen hundred US dollars in cash. Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster noted that none of the missing firearms have been relocated.
John Grinage
This afternoon around 2:00 p.m. the group of nine: Tyrone Meighan, Brandon Baptist, John, Sheldo and Jerson Grinage; Randolph Coleman; Kamisha Cacho and Crystal Augustine were escorted under heavy guard into court to be read their charges by Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith.
All accused pleaded not guilty to their charges: Tyrone Meighan for rape of the watchman’s wife, aged 45; Meighan and his fellow male accused for conspiracy to commit rape; and all six male accused for aggravated burglary of the residence of Sarkis Abou-Nehra
Sheldon Grinage
Allegations are that Tyrone Meighan, Brandon Baptist, John Jerson and Sheldon Grinage along with Randolph Coleman and others, not yet arrested on December 3, 2015, at Burrell Boom Village, entered as a trespasser, the dwelling home of Sarkis Bou Nehra, Lebanon Honorary Consul home, with intent to steal whilst armed with a weapon of offense, to wit, a firearm and stole, 2-9mm pistols, 1-12 gauge shot gun, 1-.22 rifle, and assortment of jewelleries, 1 black in color DVR Box value unknown, 1 leopard stripe design brown and black in colour Diane Von Fursteinberg brand purse value unknown, $10,000 in cash, $1.500.00 in US currency, property of Sarkis Bou Nehra along with a blue in colour Alcatel brand cell phone with calling number 632-2303 value $175.00 and $388.00 in cash the property of the rape victim.
Meighan, Baptist, the Grinages, and Randolph Coleman were additionally charged with theft of a silver in color S500 Mercedez brand car with Diplomatic L/P- #H2CC01 value unknown, property of Sarkis Abou Nehra.
Tyrone Meighan and Randolph Coleman
Meanwhile the three women, Kamisha Cacho, Ashanti Roaches and Crystal Augustine along with Brandon Baptist, Sheldon , John and Jerson Grinage, as well as Randolph Coleman were jointly charged with one count of handling stolen goods for allegedly found in possession of an assortment of items on Saturday, December 5, 2015 including, a bottle of premium gold rum Travellers brand, value unknown, 2 Appleton brand special Jamaican rum, value unknown, 1 bottle of Havanna Club brand rum value unknown, a bottle of El Dorado brand Superior Demerara rum value unknown, a bottle of Ron Caney Carta Blanca brand superior rum, a Leopard stripe design brown and black in colour Diane Von Furstenberg brand purse, value unknown.
As it relates to the men and their alleged firearm charges, no bail could be granted to them due to the nature of the offenses so they were all remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until January 14, 2016, as were the women. There were heavy objection to bail for all including the women on the basis of potential interference and ongoing investigation.
Jerson Grinage charged with aggravated burglary
In court, only Crystal Augustine was represented by attorney, Anthony Sylvester.
As the group were being walked into court by members of the Strike Team and Gang Suppression Unit, Tyrone Meighan, while handcuffed, punched Roy Davis, court reporter, off the verandah and down the stairs, causing him to hit his head.
Additionally, the press were not allowed inside the courtroom by police, causing the Chief Magistrate to issue an apology as she did not order an in camera hearing.
In an interview, Shelly Meighan, Tyrone Meighan mother said her son has an alibi as he was at home at the time of the home invasion.