Mentally ill attacker of teenage girl released after court ruling

By Breaking Belize News Staff: In a harrowing incident back in October 2022, a 14-year-old girl, Khadijah Cruz, fell victim to an unprovoked attack on her way to school. Daniel Burke, a 29-year-old mentally ill man, emerged unexpectedly and slashed Cruz’s face before fleeing the scene. The grievous injury required 13 stitches and left the young girl traumatized.

Fueled by outrage and a desire for justice, Cruz’s father and grandmother publicly decried the lack of safety for their child, urging the police to bring the attacker to justice. Authorities were able to track down and arrest Burke, who was charged with wounding. In court, he claimed not to remember the event, which led the Magistrate to order a psychiatric evaluation.

After nearly seven months in custody, a shocking turn of events unfolded in court on Wednesday. Based on two psychiatric evaluations, Burke was declared mentally unfit to stand trial. As a result, the charge of wounding was dismissed, and he was released.

The doctor responsible for evaluating Burke emphasized the importance of ongoing medication and regular medical check-ups for the assailant. Burke’s family members have been entrusted with his supervision, ensuring he receives continuous medical care and monitoring.

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