Four men charged for Abou-Nehra attack

Tonight three Belize City men have been remanded to Hattieville prison on charges of attempted murder in connection with an early morning attack in Burrell Boom. This afternoon the accused: twenty-six year old Kenrick Reneau, twenty-six year old Aniver Palacio, and twenty-seven year old Giovanni Lauriano appeared before Magistrate Sharon Frazer where they pleaded not guilty to the charges of two counts of attempted murder, one count of grievous harm, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, one count of aggravated burglary, and one count of damage to property. A fourth man, Egbert Vernon, is being sought for questioning in connection with the same case. In a strange twist of events, reports to News Five indicate that Vernon appeared at Magistrate’s Court for a different matter this morning, but because no one knew he was wanted by police, he was allowed to leave the building. It is alleged that all four men entered the home of Lebanese Honorary Consul Sarkis Abou-Nehra around one-thirty on the morning on December sixth. Abou-Nehra maintains that the armed intruders cut the locks on his kitchen door, found his bedroom, and identified themselves as police officers. A shootout ensued, which left Abou-Nehra suffering from an injury to his right middle finger. Abou-Nehra has told News Five that at the scene, a black bag was found containing a steel cutter, rope, duct tape and a syringe with liquid inside, leading him to suspect that the gunmen were out to kidnap him or a member of his family. The case has been adjourned until January tenth. It must be noted that while Aniver Palacio, Kenrick Reneau, and Egbert Vernon have been charged in connection with several other cases including the shooting of Phillip Gallaty in 2004, a weapons bust in 2003, and the robbery at the Princess Hotel this year, none of the men have enjoyed a lengthy stay at the Hattieville prison.