Niece Fatally Stabs Uncle in Belize City; Will She Be Charged for His Murder?
A dispute among relatives over a stolen cell phone has led to the death of Renicle Hemmans, who was fatally stabbed by his niece on Saturday night. The young lady remains in police custody awaiting the D.P.P.’s instructions as to whether charges will be brought against her. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man over the weekend. Renicle Hemmans was forty-one years old and lived with his sibling, mother and other relatives at the Morris family yard on Antelope Street in Belize City. But on Saturday night, he was stabbed near the fence inside the yard by his niece. An injured Hemmans ran up the street and collapsed several houses away. Police arrived shortly thereafter and rushed him to the K.H.M.H. where he succumbed to his injury.
Alejandro Cowo
Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division
“They observed Renicle Hemmans with a stab wound to the chest. He was bleeding profusely and was taken to the hospital, but he died shortly afterwards.”
Hemmans’ brother, who did not wish to appear on camera, told News Five that he was not at home at the time of the incident and says that he was in shock when their mother called and informed him about the fatal stabbing.
Renicle Hemmans
Voice of: Brother of Deceased
“He run and di way how people di tell me and thing, ih bawl, ih bawl fi mi ma. And watch weh my lee niece do ahn, but my ma never deh down soh at that moment. And then ih just drop down so and police dehn come and dehn opikc up ahn and ker ahn. Dah my ma call me and tell me that yo bredda dead and thing and dah yo niece stab an and I just lef ina wah shock from there.”
Reports are that the relatives were embroiled in an argument after which the niece pulled out a knife and stabbed her uncle once to the chest. The altercation was over a cell phone. Police say the niece had made a formal report to the station prior to the incident.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“Mister Hemmans had a misunderstanding with his niece and the argument started at the road where there was an exchange of words and bottles were thrown at each other. Inside of the yard, a struggle ensued and it is alleged that the niece got hold of a knife and inflicted a stab wound to Mister Renicle Hemmans.”
Reporter
“Was the dispute indeed over a cell phone which could not be found?”
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“Yes we understand that there was a cell phone issue that the niece was alleging that he had taken from her about two or three days before the incident.”
Reporter
“Was she alleging that she sold her phone? That’s what I heard.”
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“Yes, we understand that the cell phone was sold to somebody and that person had returned the phone, but the phone was not in working condition.”
Voice of: Brother of Deceased
“Dah wah family thing and there is nothing weh start it weh yo could say yah. Weh personally start it, weh people di say pan phone or weh people di say pan the media. People have to know weh dehn di say pan the media cause then people deh out yah with families.”
It is a hard time for the family as the accused woman and the deceased were raised as siblings. So will she be charged for the murder of her uncle?
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“The investigation is still ongoing, several statements have been recorded; persons have been interviewed, the suspect has been interviewed and based on what we have so far, we have put up a file and those documents were sent to the Office of the D.P.P. for them to advise us as to what is the correct charge to be levied if any.”
Voice of: Brother of Deceased
“Family di kill family. That dah noh fu we thing; that dah noh fu we agenda. It really hurt cause dah my bredda and then it happens fi be that dah my niece. So di two of them dah my family and two ah them loving; so I can’t say nothing beside whatsoever. She ina certain situation, she have to learn certain penalties too because then this dah noh just that.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
