38-Year-Old Hopkins Resident Murdered on Holy Thursday

Francis Augustine

A man was murdered this morning in Hopkins Village. Thirty-eight-year-old Francis Augustine was at home, inside his bedroom, when a knife-wielding attacker inflicted multiple stab wounds to his body. Augustine collapsed and bled out in his front yard while attempting to run to safety. The latest homicide comes at the start of the extended Easter weekend, when many Belizeans are preparing to travel down south. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The calm of Holy Thursday morning in Hopkins Village was disturbed by the murder of thirty-eight-year old Francis “Chingu” Augustine. A neighbor and relative of Augustine who chose to remain anonymous, spoke with News Five off camera.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased

Voice of: Relative of Deceased
“This morning after three going to four I heard banging on my window and all I could do was call the police cause I still heard whispers, cause I don’t know what the person would have in his hand. I know Francis like this, when he have trouble dah me he would run to and thing. Then we wah talk about it. I would say he mih the run to me for rescue and he collapsed there by the window.”

Augustine lived alone inside this two story wooden home. Initial investigation suggests that he was inside his bedroom when his attacker stabbed him multiple times to the neck and chest. Augustine jumped through his bedroom window on the second floor to escape the onslaught. The blood stained bed, curtain and exterior wall tells a horrific tale of the ordeal.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased
“The police come snappy because it looks like they were doing patrol. So, as soon as I called they were right here. When deh reach dah then I think bout fih tilt my window and peep outside. When I see it was Francis lying on the ground not moving. All that I see was Francis on the ground bleeding from all corners and all I can do was bawl.”

Information suggests that at the time of the attack, Augustine was inside his home with two other men. News Five understands that a few hours before the incident, Augustine got into an argument with one of the two men over a torn tennis shoe that was sold to him for a hundred dollars. Both men are now suspects in the murder.

Voice of Relative of Deceased
“He was, I nuh wah seh loving person, but he was always there when you need him. He had his ups and downs out there with people. He had his ups and downs with me too. But, at the end of the day he still showed his face at my door messing around with my kids. All I can do is sit around and screw my face up while he is playing with his kids. From there at the end of the day he knew how to bribe me. He would bring me a cigarette or a rude bway.”

Paul Lopez
“Was it common for Francis to have company over late into the night or early into the morning?”

Voice of: Relative of Deceased
“Well, I nuh wah seh no, I nuh wah say yes, because he is a person he like what I said, he is a very friendly person. So, sometimes he would have his friends them over making noise and thing. But, to be honest this morning I never heard no kinda commotion or anything. All that I heard was the banging on my window to make sure that I know he was being attacked by someone.”

The murder weapon, we are told, was discovered by police on Augustine’s bed. According to his relative, he had a troubled past that left him in constant fear of law enforcement officers.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased
“He loved to run from the police. You could just say police and he is like, I am going to run.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.