Prison Conflict Leaves Former Inmate Dead

Ismael Matura

Twenty-nine-year-old Ismael Matura lost his life on Saturday night when he was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with someone he was socializing with in Corozal Town.  The incident happened during curfew hours.  Shortly after eleven p.m., police were summoned to a location where they observed Matura with an open wound and breathing heavily.  It was later discovered that he had been in an argument with a former inmate that he had spent time within Tango Six at the Belize Central Prison.  It was during that argument that things got physical and Matura was mortally injured.

Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“Police responded to a scene on the corner of Snapper Street and Eleventh Avenue in the Skeleton Town area of Corozal, where next to a blue drum they found Ismael Matura, twenty-nine-years-old, with several stab wounds to the body.  He was transported to the Corozal Community Hospital where he succumbed while undergoing treatment.  Our initial investigation so far is that he was socializing with three other male persons, one of whom he had spent time with at the Kolbe Foundation.  I believe it was at Tango Six building where an argument ensued between Matura and one of the guys in that group.  The person that inflicted the wounds to him was encouraged by his colleagues to assault Matura.  So we have detained three of them so far and we are in the process of recording statements and hopefully by the end of today we can provide charge or charges on at least one of these individuals that we believe is responsible for taking Matura’s life.”