By Breaking Belize News Staff: A birthday celebration in La Democracia Village ended in violence, leaving a villager injured, a two-year-old boy reportedly struck by a bottle, and four young men facing criminal charges.
Michael Brandon, Malike Coote, Corey Jones, and a 16-year-old minor appeared before a Magistrate in Belize City on Wednesday, October 14, charged with wounding and disorderly conduct following a fight near Angie’s Store on Saturday, October 10.
Police say 25-year-old fisherman Tyrone Gillett was attacked by several young men who allegedly punched him repeatedly and struck him in the head with a pint bottle. Gillett was transported to the Western Regional Hospital, where his injuries were classified as wounding.
During their arraignment, Coote and Jones pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, while Brandon and the minor pleaded not guilty.
Jones also attempted to plead guilty to wounding but told the court that Gillett had threatened him with a pint bottle and that he took the bottle away before striking him. He further claimed that the confrontation followed earlier threats and that his two-year-old brother had been struck by a bottle thrown during the altercation.
The Magistrate rejected Jones’ guilty plea after determining that his explanation raised a possible defence, and entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
Coote admitted punching Gillett but denied striking him with a bottle.
Coote and Jones were each fined $100 plus $5 court costs for disorderly conduct, payable by November 30, 2026, or face one week in prison.
The wounding charges remain pending against all four defendants, while Brandon and the minor must also answer to the disorderly conduct charge. The minor was additionally taken to the Belize City Family Court to face a separate aggravated assault charge.
All four are scheduled to return to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on December 9, 2026.
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