Thursday, June 18th 2015. BMG: On Monday night, security guard, Alexander Rios, courageously defended a co-worker’s life against a gun-wielding robber. Today, 38 year-old Melhem Kelly of Orange Street, San Ignacio Town, is cooling his heels in prison following his arraignment on Wednesday afternoon.
Kelly was taken to the San Ignacio Court where he was read charges of attempted robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition, and wounding.
He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges of attempted robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunittion, but pleaded ‘guilty’ to wounding. In a sea of contradiction, Kelly admitted to being at the scene and attacking Alex Rios, but maintained that he did not carry a firearm, nor attempt to rob pump attendant, Romeo Quiroz.
All offences stem from the same allegation, however, the charges cannot be separated from each other. As a result, his guilty plea was not accepted by the magistrate, and an equivocal plea of ‘not guilty’ was entered.