William Neal stabbed to death in his home

At about four this afternoon, an elderly Belize City man was brutally stabbed at his home on Central American Boulevard. The man lived alone and there are no witnesses to give evidence on what transpired behind the wooden walls. Because there are no signs of forced entry into his home, police are not ruling out that William Neal knew his killer. Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

There is a third murder to report tonight, this time in Belize City.  The victim is eighty-two year old William Neal, who lived alone on the upper flat of this house at 110 corner Central American Boulevard and Vernon Street.  There were no visible signs of forced entry and one neighbour told us that Neal was seen on Tuesday and Wednesday breaking down this fence.  That was the last day he was seen working in his yard. Police believe he was murdered that same night.  The elderly citizen was stabbed several times and his neck was slashed.

It is alleged that Neal had conflict with the new owners of the land on the other side of the fence he was tearing down.  For over forty years, Neal had a lease and access to the entire piece of land.  But distant relatives acquired possession to half of the land and the court had ruled that he had to surrender that half.  The fence was built but Neal, it appeared, was not in agreement and on Tuesday he started breaking down the structure.  Neal was also a man who made frequent trips to the United States, where he spent the earlier part of his life.