Trial of Foster Parents Charged in Ayana Bennet’s Death Delayed

The long-awaited trial of Denver and Lena Plett was adjourned this morning upon the request of their attorney, Leeroy Banner.  The Spanish Lookout couple charged in connection with the death of four-year-old Ayana Bennet, was to see their trial start today before the High Court in Belmopan.  It is a case that stems from a tragic incident in November 2023 where Ayana was in the care of the Pletts as a foster child and passed away.  The child died after sustaining injuries that a post-mortem examination later determined were caused by blunt force trauma. Investigators alleged that the child had been struck with a belt after failing to correctly identify a colour.  At the time of the incident, a national conversation was prompted over Belize’s foster care system and the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable children. In the aftermath of the tragedy, government officials pledged to review and strengthen procedures governing the screening and monitoring of foster parents.  Speaking with the media at the time, in December 2023, was the then Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos Garcia.

Dolores Baldermos Garcia, Sr. Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister of Belize: “You know it’s hard to talk about but I will tell you that the police have custody of the case now. The DPP made her decision as to the charges and basically we don’t have much more of an update than that. I can tell you though that we have been within my ministry reviewing all our protocols as to how we place children in foster care. And we have taken into account that many times for foster care, it’s good to have what you call an ethnically appropriate or friendly placement of children, you know? Mind you, that is not taking away from the entire Mennonite community because they have been very good about reaching out. Just to repeat, there really were no red flags when those children were placed in emergency placement back in September and so it’s still extremely difficult to talk about. I think as a country we’re still grieving in such a loss of such a precious innocent life you know. Let justice take its course but at the same time I want to give the public the assurance that our ministry will continue to do our best for the protection of children. You know we may have over four to five hundred children in placements all over the country. We have government facilities. We have private facilities that we work with. We have residential care facilities once you have more than eight children in your care, and you’re not the biological family, you must apply for a license to operate a residential care facility. And so we have many facilities throughout the country. And there is an inspector of social service institutions and that person goes out and makes sure.”

Following the results of the post-mortem examination, the couple’s initial aggravated assault charge was upgraded to manslaughter. The decision then by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions generated widespread public debate with some members of Ayana’s biological family calling for murder charges to be brought against the foster parents.  Denver and Lena Plett appeared in court this morning, but were informed of an adjournment when attorney, Leeroy Banner, was delayed from attending today’s proceedings.