By Belize Live News Staff: An argument over who should pay for a spilled beer turned into a violent scene at a restaurant in Indian Church Village on Friday night.
A 45 year old boat captain told police he ordered a beer at the bar and the bottle slipped from the bartender’s hand and broke. A man across the room shouted that he had to pay for it. He said he never touched it.
That was enough. Police say a man he has known for more than twenty years jumped up from his table, wrapped both hands around his throat and started choking him. Patrons tried to pull him off and could not.
The complainant was pushed down, struck his head on the floor, and was choked a second time before the room finally got the man off him.
His black Costa shades, worth $600, were hanging around his neck and snapped in half.
A doctor certified his injuries as harm.
Santiago Escalante, 50, a cowboy of the village, has been charged with harm and damage to property.
Would you have paid for that beer?
