Court rules that constitutional violation case against Police Commissioner will go to trial

Published by BBNTEAM at March 15, 2023

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Posted: Wednesday, March 15, 2023. 9:15 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Commissioner of Police and the Belize Police Department will have to answer in court to a claim of constitutional rights violations filed by Police Constable Alicia Trapp.

The defendants in the case had submitted to the court that Trapp’s suit had no merit in law and should be dismissed; however, on Tuesday the court ruled that the case does have merit and will proceed to full trial.

Orson Elrington, Trapp’s attorney, explained that the court has given his client 14 days to make the necessary amendments to the claim and that the defendants will be given time to respond to the amended suit.

The claim stems from a situation in June 2022, where Trapp had an altercation with Minister Julius Espat and took to social media to air her discontent. The Commissioner brought Trapp up on disciplinary charges, saying that the department has a policy that bars police officers from participating in political events.

Trapp claims that the policy violates her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression and took the matter to court.

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