The Attempted Murder of a Woman in Belize City

This morning, news spread like wildfire about the attempted murder of a woman in Belize City. She was waiting at the entrance of the Linda Vista Estate area at around mile two on the George Price Highway when she was approached by a man on bicycle. Moments later, screams were heard and residents flocked to the area to find a man atop the woman stabbing her multiple times, including to the neck. Tonight, that woman is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Around nine a.m. today, a woman, who goes by the name Alondra, was standing here waiting for a taxi when a man, who is reportedly her ex-boyfriend, approached on bicycle. That individual, believed to have been intoxicated, had a brief conversation with her before pulling out a knife and a machete and began stabbing Alondra to her neck and other parts of the body.

Voice of: Witness

“I saw the woman there with him. He was standing with his bicycle and the girl in front, but I never thought they were arguing. They looked normal from what I could see from the car. So, I came to the store shortly after I opened up the shop, I heard the screams, but thought it was children screaming while playing. I didn’t think anything bad was happening. But when I saw a man running in that direction to help, I went outside by the fence.  I saw the girl on the ground and he was on top of her. I saw a knife and a machete. Then another came and grabbed the machete and wanted to hit him with it. But another person told him not to hit him with the machete. I told him to let go of the coward, but I felt bad because it’s the first time I see something like that.”

According to the witness, Alondra’s child is a friend of her daughter, as they both attend the same primary school. She decided to give the girl a ride to school. While en route, the little girl spotted the man on bicycle and dodged him.

Voice of: Witness

“In the morning, I saw the lady standing with the girl. So, my daughter, as a great friend of hers, told her that I’m going to take her to school since my mom is taking me in the same direction. After a while, the woman came to buy the girl a coke. I rarely talk to the mother because we are not friends; I only know her because my daughter knows her daughter. So got into the vehicle and I drove to the school. When we got near to the cemetery, I saw that man on a bicycle, but I didn’t pay it much attention. I was driving, so I didn’t take a good look at him. Then the girl says to the boy, you bend down, because here comes your daddy. And I don’t want him to tell you to go home. I then left, I left the girls at school and I came here and I entered the gate.”

Following the attack, the victim was rushed to the K.H.M.H. by a taxi and police arrived soon after to take her assailant into custody.

Voice of: Witness

“I’m not sure if it was the same taxi that she expected, but she was placed into the taxi and rushed to the hospital. He was still yelling at the woman. She was bleeding profusely and the man’s clothes was stained with blood.  It seemed like he wanted to go after her, but he never tried to escape.  The crowd didn’t allow him to leave either and he just sat there. He sat down and the policeman arrived. Well, what happened is that I was calling the police and they didn’t come. Later I saw a policeman coming.”

Gender-based violence is an issue that the Belize Police Department has been battling. During today’s house meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa gave brief comments about the incident.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Then this morning as well we had another incident in which a young lady was stabbed presumably her partner. In that instance quick policing led to the detention of the individual.”

The victim is in a critical but stable condition at the K.H.M.H. Duane Moody for News Five.