Troy Hyde
Today, under heavy security with police armed with M-sixteen rifles, Troy Deon Hyde, of Curl Thompson Street, Belize City, was taken to court for arraignment. At eight-ten this morning, when he was first brought to court by CIB personnel in their private vehicle, word spread on the streets that gunmen would cause trouble as Hyde is the suspect in the murder of George Street affiliate, Kareem Lopez, aka “Robbery.” Within minutes of his arrival, Hyde was taken back to the Queen Street Police Station and it was not until nine-thirty that he returned to court escorted by armed police. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, but it took another hour and ten minutes before he was actually read the charge of murder for the January third, 2015 execution of Lopez. His mother and girlfriend were also present in court as well as other friends including former press officer, Fitzroy Yearwood. Hyde was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until February twenty-fourth, 2015 and thereafter he was rushed into a private police vehicle waiting outside for him. Lopez, the deceased, was no stranger to the court; and had run-ins with the law. In 2012, he was convicted for the charge of Kept Firearm and Ammunition without a gun license and sentenced to two-five year jail terms. He immediately appealed his sentence, was granted a stay and was awaiting his appeal when he was shot on Central American Boulevard this past Saturday. He had just purchased food from a Chinese shop and was about to enter his vehicle when a gunman opened fire in his direction. Police say as many as twenty shots were fired and as many as fifteen found their mark on him. About a year ago, there was an attempt on his life which he survived, but prior to that in 2006, he walked from the murder of Mark Gardiner. He was recently before the court on a charge of causing public terror for a shooting incident which occurred on Carnival Day, September thirteen, 2014. He was accused of discharging a firearm in a public place on Douglas Jones Street. There is speculation that Lopez was a suspect in the attempted murder of Hyde, sometime ago, but was never charged.