Police Officer Walks Free After Complainant Withdraws Domestic Violence Case

A police officer accused in a domestic violence case has walked free after the complainant declined to proceed with the matter in court.  39-year-old Phillip Garbutt, attached to the Traffic Support Unit, had been facing charges of wounding his common-law wife and harm to her eight-year-old son following a February 17 incident at their Belize City home.  But when the matter was called up this morning before the Magistrate’s Court, the virtual complainant, 38-year-old caregiver Debra Jacobs, informed the court that she did not wish to continue with the case. After confirming that she was not forced, threatened, or influenced to withdraw, the prosecution offered no further evidence.  As a result, the presiding magistrate dismissed the charges for want of prosecution, and Garbutt was freed.  The case had drawn public attention after video footage of the incident circulated, allegedly showing the officer assaulting the child during a domestic dispute. According to reports, the child had intervened while his mother was being attacked.  Despite the outcome in court, the child’s father has expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the justice system failed to protect his son and that the matter should not have been withdrawn.  The incident, which was initially reported to police and the Gender-Based Violence Unit, had led to Garbutt’s arrest and subsequent charges earlier this year.