B.D.F. Soldier Arraigned for Girlfriend’s Murder

Albert Moriera

Belize City investigators believe that twenty-seven-year-old Albert Moriera brutally murdered thirty-seven-year-old Felina James. The B.D.F. soldier was arraigned this morning for the crime of murder and was remanded until November thirtieth. James and Moriera were intimately involved and shared a son. The couple, according to the James’ family, was in a toxic relationship with Moriera reportedly abusing James repeatedly. He was the last person to be seen with her before she was found dead, with a chop wound to her neck, in some bushes along the Coastal Road a week after she disappeared. In court today, no plea was taken from Moriera due to the nature of the offense and he was taken to the Belize Central Prison. Hipolito Novelo reports.

Felina James

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

In handcuffs and in civilian clothing, twenty-seven-year-old B.D.F. soldier Albert Stephen Moriera was marched into Magistrate Court number five in Belize City. He was arraigned before Magistrate Emerson Banner for the murder of Felina Margaret James, a thirty-seven-year-old Belize City woman who was in a relationship with him. Since the charge is on an indictable nature, no plea was taken and Moriera was remanded behind bars until November thirtieth, his next court appearance. James went missing on Thursday, October eleventh. She was seen near Sarteneja Village on Friday, October twelfth. She had gone to the village to retrieve her belongings as she had made plans to move to Belize City before relocating permanently to the US with her two children, one which she shares with Moriera. Several of her identification cards were found near the Ministry of Natural Resources in Belmopan days later, leaving her family with growing concerns. Her body was found dumped in some bushes along the Coastal Road on October eighteen. Semi-nude and in a state of advanced decomposition, James’ body was identified by her aunt who recognized a tattoo with the name `Albert’ on her left breast. James was found with only a pink brassiere and black jeans short pants. Her feet and hands were reportedly bound with a black blouse. Five days after on October twenty third, parts of James’ Kia Sorrento were found in Steadfast village, which is where Moriera’s family is originally from. Moriera is the last person who was seen with James when she was alive and is accused of fatally chopping James to the neck. Moriera and James were in a toxic relationship and according to James’ father; Moriera was reportedly an abusive boyfriend.

Efrain Granados

Efrain Granados, Father of Deceased [File: October 19^th, 2018]

“The man, I know, is of bad feelings. He is chauvinistic against women. But yes from the report I have from him is that he is chauvinistic against women. That man had a relationship with her for about four years. They lived together almost a year in Orange Walk. I took her stuff of my daughter there and I told her that Orange Walk is not for her because she grew here. But she wanted to be there because the man was working there. I heard that they did not get along and that he mistreated her. She did not report it to police. There were two incidents which she did not report.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.