Dead doctor’s statement sparks legal battle in weed gummies case against former Police Exhibit Keeper

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The High Court will have to determine whether a statement given by the late Dr. Cecilio Eck can be admitted into evidence in the upcoming trial of former Belize Police Department exhibit keeper Mario Bustillos over the infamous 2023 cannabis-infused gummies incident.

The issue arose during a Case Management Conference before Justice Nigel Pilgrim on Tuesday, September 29.

Bustillos’ attorney, Nazira Myles-Espat, is challenging the contents and reliability of Dr. Eck’s statement. The Crown has indicated that a voir dire, or hearing within the trial to determine the admissibility of disputed evidence, will therefore be required.

Prosecutors will have to establish that Dr. Eck, who died earlier this year, is deceased and provide the circumstances under which his statement was obtained before seeking to rely on it at trial.

Dr. Eck reportedly treated two of the minors affected after cannabis-infused candies made their way into public circulation in April 2023. His medical evidence forms part of the Crown’s case against Bustillos.

Bustillos is accused of acting in excess of his authority as the Police Department’s exhibit keeper on April 21, 2023, by allegedly disposing of bags containing cannabis-infused gummies that had been placed in the police exhibit room for safekeeping.

Police previously said the gummies had been seized after entering Belize and were later discarded in a garbage trailer at the Queen Street Police Station compound before being taken to the Belize City transfer station. Some subsequently made their way back into circulation and were sold to members of the public. More than 30 children and several adults were hospitalized after consuming the marijuana-laced sweets.

Bustillos was initially charged with 10 counts of negligent harm involving minors affected by the incident. Those charges were later discontinued and he was subsequently charged with willful oppression.

The Crown is expected to call more than 20 witnesses when the matter goes to trial. Bustillos remains on bail and on interdiction from the Police Department.

His trial, which had been scheduled to begin in September, has since been pushed back to March 9, 2027, because of the High Court’s trial calendar.

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