Was Hope Creek Man Murdered or Was It Self-Defense?
Arnulfo Ramirez
A Guatemalan national lost his life on Tuesday night; his body was found behind a bus shed in Hope Creek, Stann Creek District. But it is not clear if it is a case of murder or self defense. Earlier in the night, Arnulfo Ramirez was involved in an altercation with Gustavo Castillo; both sustained injuries but Ramirez did not survive and died after he was hit on the head. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Around seven-thirty on Tuesday night, the body of a Ponoma Valley resident was found behind a bus shed quarter mile down the Coastal Road, in Hope Creek Village. Guatemalan national, forty-nine year old Arnulfo Ramirez was seen with a wound to the back of the head. After the scene was processed, his body was taken to the Southern Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Supt. Roy Joseph, O.C., Dangriga Police
“On arrival there, they observed the motionless body of a Hispanic male person lying face down with a wound to the back of his head. The individual was lying just behind a bus shed situation off the same Coastal Road. Initial investigations reveal that the said individual whose name was learnt to be Arnulfo Castillo Ramirez, a forty-nine year old Guatemalan laborer, was involved in an altercation with another person identified as Gustavo Castillo, a forty-six year old Belizean truck driver of Hope Creek, during which time Ramirez inflicted a chop wound to Castillo who in turn took a piece of iron and hit him to the back of his head causing the said injury.”
Castillo was here, at a popular grocery store in the village when he was assaulted by Ramirez with a machete. According to the security guard at the establishment, a couple entered the store, claiming that they were being attacked by a machete welding assailant. Castillo came out to assist when he was chopped to the hand. George Flowers says that a fight ensued between the two after which Castillo was pursued by Ramirez. In self-defense, Flowers says Castillo hit the deceased over the head with a piece of iron.
George Flowers, Witness
“I see the man come, fly after the two lady and they pickney. They come into the shop and I just sit down. My lee brother lee going to hail ih father when ih fling the machete to block it off…he never expect that. then they start to scramble.”
George Flowers
Duane Moody
“So he was going to chop the guy on his neck…”
George Flowers
“Ih gwen go hail ih dad, but from there, they start to scramble and when I gone get some water and come back, ih say bwai the man chop me. So I run to tell ih brother to take him to doctor.”
Castillo was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment for the injury he sustained to his left arm, unknown to him that the hit he gave to Ramirez was fatal.
George Flowers
“He mi really drunk, intoxicated. Ih mi real drunk. From in the day, he was after some people and like three set of people he was after then my brother in law get in scramble with him. Only that I see, I noh see nothing else.”
Duane Moody
“How is he doing now? Do you know?”
George Flowers
“Well the police bring him out on the crime scene this morning and they brign him back, but he is in really bad pain. Cause whole ah yah soh and yah soh get cut too. So he is in really bad pain right now.”
Roy Joseph
Castillo has since been detained pending further investigation.
Supt. Roy Joseph
“As in any investigation, we are looking at it from all angles. However, the investigation is in its pooper stage and as such I wouldn’t want to comment on that specific part.”
Duane Moody
“Has the weapon used in both instances been recovered?”
Supt. Roy Joseph
“I can tell you that the area was properly canvassed and evidence has been gathered.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, is anyone detained for this incident?”
Supt. Roy Joseph
“At this time, Mister Castillo is presently detained.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
