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Day is tomorrow but there are some Belizean families who are mourning
instead of celebrating. That’s because there was a murder in Santa Elena
and another one in Dangriga over the weekend, both caused by stabbings.
We’ll begin this evening with the Santa Elena murder. 36 year old Rene
Vera is the victim who was stabbed to death in his home and it appears
to be a crime of passion. Vera’s body was found inside his home on
Bishop Martin Street in Santa Elena town where three males reside. When
Rene’s partner arrived home on Saturday afternoon after a month of
being away at work in Pine Ridge, the sight that greeted him was
gruesome; a ransacked house with blood everywhere and Vera’s lifeless
body with multiple stab wounds. Vera was found in his bedroom with nine
stab wounds to his heart, neck and lungs.
POLICE OFFICER:
Inside one of the bedrooms, Police saw the lifeless body of Mr Vera
lying on the left side of his body, in a pool of blood, with multiple
stab wounds on his chest area and his neck. Also seen was blood all
around the house, in the living room, and in the other bedroom also.
The Christmas tree that the gentleman has was somewhat leaning against
the wall. The dining table was moved from its original position, which
indicated that apparently there was a struggle inside the house.
Reports are that Vera was last seen alive singing at Sun Set Bar and
was seen leaving the bar with another man. By 3 o’clock the following
afternoon, Vera was dead. A neighbour reported that he passed the house
at about one o’clock Saturday morning and saw the house door open and
lights on but didn’t go to check if something was wrong. Police have
since detained a person of interest who claims to be Rene’s cousin but
police say he is being highly uncooperative.
POLICE OFFICER:
As a result of interviews conducted, we have a person in custody.
This person has been questioned. So far we’re reluctant. He does not
want to cooperate with the Police. Apparently, he was the last person
seen with Me Vera, but not in the residence of Me Vera, just in the
vacinity, about two blocks from his house. We no see no sign of
breakage, which indicates that it appears that the person was somehow
invited by Mr Vera into his residence. We believing that they were
socializing, because we see a container where they had ice placed in it,
three or four Coke bottles, and a broked Caribbean Gold bottle on the
floor of the house.
According to those we spoke with, Vera’s lifestyle choices may have
placed him in dangerous and vulnerable situations. One family member we
spoke with told us that the Rene they know was a fun loving guy.
VICTIM’S NIECE:
My uncle, he was a friendly person. We would say he was a people
person. He grew with everybody. Yes, he has problems, but he would
still get along with them afterwards. He doesn’t hold anything against
anybody. His family comes first. That was the main thing to him. When
I just found out, I screem, I cried for a little while, and I see my
cousins crying. I have to be strong, He’s gone. We won,t see him,
talk to him, but he’s always in our heart, and I will never forget him.
They founf the person. He’s related to us. He’s our cousin. And to
make it worse, because that’s a surprise that our own family gonna do
this.
Police have not made any arrests as yet but say they are preparing
papers to submit to the DPP’s office to see if they will proceed with
any charges.
Happy New Year 2013