B.D.F. employee stabs wife to death
Tonight a husband is behind bars after he viciously stabbed his wife in front of several eyewitnesses and then left her to die on the floor. The couple, both employees of the Belize Defence Force, were known to have a stormy relationship, but many had hoped the marriage would not end in violence. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has the disturbing details.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Today thirty-four year old Michelle Belisle, manager of the Belize Defence Force’s Canteen at Price Barracks, was at her workplace around 9:00 this morning when her husband, Windel Belisle, a driver for the B.D.F., entered the establishment and stabbed her several times.
As to one possible motive of this crime, News 5 has learnt that on Monday, July first, Mrs. Belisle had requested a restraining order from Family Court against her husband, but because he could not be located, he was never served with the paper.
Belisle, who sustained multiple stab wounds all over her body, died one hour after she was rushed to the force’s hospital.
Jacqueline Woods
“How long was Michelle working here?”
Major Raphael Martinez, Force Adjutant, BDF
“She’s been working here for quite a few years now.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What can you tell us about her?”
Major Raphael Martinez
“She seems to be a very pleasant person. She’s always there, she’s always helpful and she was well liked.”
The Belisles had a history of domestic disputes at home and in public. In fact, B.D.F. authorities on occasions had to speak to both couple following arguments they had on the compound. Major Raphael Martinez, B.D.F. Force Adjutant, says the canteen where Belisle worked is used to supply refreshments and food to B.D.F. civilian employees. At the time of the incident, there were a number of persons inside the building.
Jacqueline Woods
“Now if it happened inside a Force canteen that means there must have been people around, so people maybe wondering how could this have led to a murder? Obviously they must have been in a argument, why wasn’t that stopped?”
Major Raphael Martinez
“What actually transpired in that area, the police is actually investigating that. What led to her death, what actually went on in his head to actually stab his wife to death is beyond me. It was a very horrible act, and it’s unfortunate.”
Late this afternoon, Windel Belisle was taken over to Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with the murder of his wife. According to Major Martinez this is the first time that such an incident has occurred on the base between B.D.F.’s civilian employees.
Major Raphael Martinez
“Between the British Army Training Support Unit Belize and the Belize Defence Force, between us we have quite a few civilians working on this establishment and I must mention that this is the first time such an incident has happened on this location.”
Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
The couple have three children, the oldest a fifteen year old student.
