Jasmine Lowe
I spoke to my source close to the investigation last night to get a feel of what is happening now. The pathologist (not forensic pathologist) could not determine a cause of death. Not surprising, he is not an expert in that field of forensics, so I learned last night. And BTW, Belize law does not require a forensic specialist to examine murdered bodies; only a medical doctor is needed. Meaning, he was never trained to determine cause of death that is not obvious. I feel like my head is spinning. I feel like screaming WTF. Can this murder even be solved, if they cannot establish a murder even happened? Everything following that evaluation seems to be a big waste of time.
According to my source, the police are looking for blood and fingerprinting evidence in the car they impounded to find clues that may link little Jasmine presence in the taxi. Sounds good right? WRONG. Let me remind you that they didn’t take any evidence from Jasmine. No fluids or fingerprinting, no rape kits, nada so making that link would be a feat even gods would find impossible. Not to mention, as Faye stated in her dingle berry, the investigating officer is making wide assumptions about what happened based on observations he can neither prove nor disprove.
So now they have a “suspect” who may or may not be the murderer. The public fears are somewhat alleviated. Please don’t let your guard down now. At this stage, the public need to be very cautious and aware as to the person the police presents to them. The police is desperate for a solution making the environment ripe for a scapegoat. Criminals in Belize laugh at our poor investigative skills.
So we reach the point where we take the defendant to court. Enter the defense attorney. Remember, a person is innocent until proven otherwise. It is the State’s job to prove him guilty. The state cannot even establish a murder happened. According to the pathologist, he cannot establish a cause of death. How do we know how she died? She could have died from a sunstroke! I don’t mean to be facetious but in court, it is not what you know, it is what you can prove. The most essential part of the case is ruined unless they can determine conclusively that she was in fact murdered.
My Belizeans, it is not only about attending the vigils and crying and complaining. It is about asking the right questions, demanding action and becoming an active and vigilant member of society. Political will comes from the people. When people are arrested for murders, find out what the pathologist did; what evidence and procedures were followed. Ask the police what protocols they followed. Find out the applicable laws. We cannot allow “professionals” to be beyond reproach anymore, since I recently discovered the man reporting on’ causes of death’ is no professional in forensics. Our children, families, neighbors and fellow citizens’ deaths are turning into sad unresolved statistics. Your family WILL be next if this continues unabated.
I make a desperate plea to members of the Belize Bar Association with police background to come on board and help fix our broken system. I call on all politicians to take off their political hats and put on their Belizean one to solve this crisis. As I write this, two more bodies have been found, possibly the two teenage boys missing. Their cause of death will be obvious, since it appears they were shot. What about little Jasmine? We still have no idea how she died and what she endured.
We are a part of a greater plan in this world, even if we don’t know our purpose. It seems that it took the murder of little Jasmine to move us as a nation; she is the sacrificial angel we needed to realize that our antiquated laws do not equip the police and prosecutors to fight these murderers who rein free in Belize. I am mad at everyone, including myself, to be in slumber for so long, but finger pointing causes this. It takes away your personal responsibility and cast it elsewhere. Please do not lose sight of this movement for Jasmine.
Tonight the nation will mourn collectively as vigils all over the country are taking place. All will begin at 6pm. Everyone is asked to bring a candle and a white T-Shirt to show solidarity. Let the conversations begin there.
San Ignacio/Santa Elena – in front of Police Station
Belmopan – National Assembly
Belize City – Battlefield Park
Punta Gorda- Central Park
Placencia – in front of Police Station
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What’s happening with the case?
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Various type s of evidence are gathered at crime scenes, fingerprints, other physical samples, but I am unaware of any case being successfully concluded because of the use of even fingerprint evidence. I am going to bring the issue up at the next People’s coalition meeting, there is no information publicized so I may be very wrong. If any one knows the answer, is any evidence apart from confessions or eye witness used? We so often hear that the prosecution have no case because witnesses are afraid, case dropped, killer goes free.
David, when I worked at prosecution we had a couple cases where defendants were convicted due fingerprints. The then officer Rosado ( now deceased) learned about fingerprinting and was ethusuastic back then for a fingerprinting computer that could help then generate suspects. I don’t know what happened since then.
Your information is incorrect and your “Sources” know it. DNA was taken.. The only thing correct is the info on the doctor. And any MD worth his salt should be able to give an “opinion” on the cause of death. This doctor obviously does not trust his opinion or want to testify in court as to that opinion.
hmmmmm….then he should remove himself from the position on ethical and moral grounds…I wish the whole DNA thing had been clarified earlier…it would have helped to assure people that some steps were being taken…however..in the end…lots went wrong with this whole process and many investigations before…bigger than this is the overwhelming need for better practice,period. It will only benefit us as a nation to demand better trained personnel. FAC
My sources says otherwise and I will be keeping a close eye on the outcome of this investigation. AL
The people in our country that can really make a difference and be a voice in the country, have been sitting down doing a lot of talking and no action. Crimes has been going on for decades in that country and no one came forth to make a stand. Now we have so many “want to be heard” making a stand on rules in our country and how things need to be, but for how long? Will they continue to fight for Jasmine and others that has been and will be involve in these vicious crimes? As a Belizean American, I came to realize that most of out citizens with positions in our country are far from qualified for the positions that are been held, and that goes not only for the Pathologist, but media houses, political post, educators etc…..So if we will blame the Pathologist in this crime and ask our country to start educating our fellow citizens in giving them a chance to go aboard to study, then we will need to revamp our entire country and put in place qualified workers that won’t make our system a laughing stock. My prayers goes out to all the victims, especially the innocent children that will never get a chance to have help made a difference in our country. May God bless them and our beautiful Belize. Shalom
Aria, Dr. Estradabran is a forensic pathologist. Before he can give evidence in a court of law as an expert witness field, he has to give elaborate details of his medical expertise, years of practice and experience before the court accepts his evidence. Perhaps what should be advocated is that government should ensure that there at least two to three Belizeans are sent away to study forensic pathology. This will certainly alleviate the strain presently being placed on Dr. Estrabadran.
Anthony I was informed he never specialized in forensic pathology. I understand he did a course but not the requires 3 years study that makes him a specialist and Belize has accepted his credentials because of lack of expertise. Additionally I was emailed several stories of people who could afford their own and were provided with conflicting conclusions. If he has specialized I expect he will have no problem providing evidence of this. AL
What next Belize??
That is %100 true.I know, personally, of a case where Estradabran missed close to %50 of the bruises on the childs body. The boys body was found in three inches of water. The weather was calm. The person charged with the murder, his bag was found next to the body. The second autopsy ruled the death was by strangulation, not drowning. The family was willing to pay for the forensic pathologist to come to Belize for court. The DPP had to let the accused go because Estradabran went on TV and pronounced the death was accidental, and that the bruises wer caused by wave action. The forensic pathologist said that Estradabran would not be a forensic technician in the US. Lets face it, we have a fool managing our forensic evidence. The sooner we send he ras back to Mexico, the better. How many more child killers will walk free sake of this idiot?
So, no, Estradabran is NOT a forensic pathologist.