Police Catch Up with Accused Sister-Killer Elijah Burke

Elijah Burke

In the case of another gruesome murder, Elijah Burke, a Belize City resident, is in police hands awaiting arraignment in court for the hacking of his sister. It is not known what triggered the savage murder of Julian Burke by her brother. On Sunday, Elijah waylaid his sister and pounced on her as she entered her house from the rear of the property located in the King’s Park area of the City. Julian’s son was with her and witnessed the hacking of his mother. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Twenty-seven-year-old Elijah Burke, a resident of Baghdad Street, remains in custody tonight, after being detained on Monday in connection with the brutal murder of his sister.  Julian Burke, a young mother who lived at this address near the corners of First and St. Peter streets in the Kings Park area, was viciously attacked by her sibling who proceeded to inflict multiple chop wounds to various parts of her body.  The harrowing ordeal was witnessed by her six-year-old son who ran for help at a neighbor’s house.

JD Funes, Common-law Husband of Deceased

“Her little boy actually saw how mommy actually died, passed away.”

The infant had just returned home along with his mother after reportedly visiting a sister who was celebrating her birthday on Sunday.  Little did the mother and son know that they were being waylaid behind a coconut tree in the yard by an angry relative.  When they arrived at the rear of the property, Elijah pounced without warning.

JD Funes

JD Funes

“Her brother was waiting for her by the coconut tree and when she turned to swing for the key to open that’s when he hit, regrettably, the first strike.  And I got to know all of that through her son.”

In a state of fright and panic, the minor sought assistance from the landlord, before running away from the scene of the deadly chopping.  According to the property-owner, she heard the commotion in the nearby yard, but by the time she was able to peek through a bedroom window, the vicious assault was already taken place across from her place of business.  The proprietor declined to appear on record.  Her account of what transpired was echoed by Burke’s common-law husband.

Julian Burke

JD Funes

“She ran to the street and that’s when the neighbors start, you know, notifying that what this noise was all about.  And everybody knows that I usually argue with she, but not those levels and I was just in the sugar mill at Cayo trying to survive, take care of her stepson, her and myself when I received the messed up news about six-thirty I guess.”

By that time, Julie, as her loved ones all knew her, was already rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where she was suffering from a partially severed lower arm and massive chop wounds to the head.  The spray of blood on the adjacent fence is some indication of the sheer violence that befell her.

JD Funes

“When I saw her she was already in coma.  I tried to talk to her but she just moved.  I wished she’d just open her eyes to say I’m here but it wasn’t that way.  Even if I prayed it wasn’t that way.”

Isani Cayetano

“Tell us what you know about the brother, Elijah.  Were they known to have had any kind of differences with each other?  Tell us what you know about the individual.”

JD Funes

“This guy, he came here for a couple nights, chilled here, bought some food for us, but I guess he was already planning what he was going to do.  So I guess the best way was to mingle with us and see what, or study the moves, so to speak.”

Neighbors told News Five earlier today that there may have been a confrontation at the home of the sister who was celebrating her birthday but that Elijah left the premises without saying a word.  He returned to Julie’s bungalow instead and laid in wait.

JD Funes

“He stole a purse with her personal belongings which was only documents and I guess it was concerning that the documents, they argued at her bigger sister’s home.  Like I said, I was in Cayo, I didn’t know anything until I came and saw her in…  Shet down.  I talked to her.  I tried my best but sometimes your plans da noh God’s plans and she’s not here anymore.  I still feel like it’s a dream.”

A very bad dream that he will be forced to awaken from.  For the six-year-old stepson, the nightmare of his mother being butchered before his very eyes is undoubtedly etched in his young mind.

JD Funes

“Front ah your nephew! You know, I never used to like her son before but with time I started realizing, you know what, his father don’t really check for the lee bwai because he noh really help, and I don’t need his help.  So you know what, I’ll take him under my wing and we were living, I can’t say la vida loca, but we were living the cool life and now this crap.  She’s gone.  The little boy he can’t stay with me because he’s not my real son.  He’s gone and now it’s me one in my apartment.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.