Drug Plane Trial to Restart After Magistrate Recuses Herself

A drug trial in San Ignacio came to an unexpected halt earlier this week when the presiding magistrate recused herself from the case. The trial was related to a November 2021 drug plane landing that resulted in a large drug seizure and the detention of seven alleged traffickers, including the Mexican co-pilot. After years of hearings, the case will now have to start over with a new magistrate. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained why the magistrate stepped down and what the next steps are for the case.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The briefing I got from the prosecutor Ms. Elrington, there seems to have been issue in the court room, where she believe that the case was not going as should and that there may be some degree of bias from the magistrate and she made a submission to the magistrate for the magistrate to recuse herself. That submission was accepted and the magistrate recused herself and we just have to look for a new trial.”