Prison officer murdered in Garden City

He left his job at the Hattieville Central Prison and was heading to the Valley of Peace near Belmopan but the prison officer never made it home. His murder was witnessed by least five persons and it happened in broad daylight. And now the family of 2009’s murder victim number six is seeking justice. Marion Ali has the report.

Marion Ali, Reporting
The bloodstains on the compound in front of TV Capital Entertainment, a poolroom on Constitution Drive in Belmopan marked the spot where forty-four year old Marcos Ishim fell after he was stabbed to the heart around three o’clock on Monday afternoon.

Ishim, reports indicate, had come off duty earlier in the day from the Hattieville Correctional Facility and had stopped off in Belmopan to have lunch before making it home to Valley of Peace. But he never reached his destination because it appeared he had more than just lunch. An inebriated Ishim got involved in an argument with another man who pulled out a knife and stabbed him. Anwar Barrow, who was not far away, helped Ishim to the Belmopan Hospital. He feels the stabbing was unwarranted.

Anwar Barrow, Helped Deceased
“I would say close to three o’clock yesterday some gentlemen were sitting down in front here and another man came up and he was intoxicated, he was staggering. And he was belligerent with one of the people sitting down out here, noh. And a little after that he got stabbed and he was bleeding. His shirt was full of blood and he walked right around a vehicle which was parked and he fell down out there.”

Marion Ali
“Was there a fight or a scuffle, an argument? What did you hear?”

Anwar Barrow
“I didn’t hear… there was loud talking because the guy who was drunk who lost his life was loud, noh but there wasn’t any fight. They couldn’t fight with the man because the man was so intoxicated that he couldn’t have put up a fight. So he lost his life really for nothing.”

Alma Mortis, Deputy O.C., C.I.B., Belmopan
“The deceased came and went to the location where they were and therefore an argument transpired between him and one of the male persons. And that is when the male person stabbed him with a knife. That’s our initial investigation at this time and the investigation is still ongoing.”

Marion Ali
“Did you hear if he threatened anybody?”

Anwar Barrow
“I think he was so drunk that he couldn’t really have threatened anybody in any meaningful way, to be honest with you, unless he had some weapon or something of the sort and that I didn’t see him with any weapon. I saw him directly after he was stabbed and I didn’t see him with any weapon in his hand. It’s really tragic because I think the guy lost his life over nothing.”

Enchih Lo was inside his business, TV Capital Entertainment, located immediately in front of where Ishim was stabbed. He says people always gather in front of the establishment to chat but Monday afternoon’s tragedy might hurt his business.

Enchih Lo, Proprietor, TV Capital Entertainment
“A lot of people come here because a lot of people don’t work and this area open. So if he noh drunk, no something. Sometimes some people drunk.”

Belmopan police have not yet ascertained what led to the killing, except that it was the result of a brief exchange of words. However, police have detained the group of men who were gathered outside the business and they believe they know who pulled the knife.

Alma Mortis
“It was an argument between the deceased. It’s not clear what the argument was about at this time.”

Marion Ali
“Do they know each other? Did they normally hang out at that location or this was just a random…”

Alma Mortis
“No, they do not normally hang out at the location. This was random.”

Marion Ali
“Are they friends?”

Alma Mortis
“At this time I cannot establish if the deceased and the accused were friends. We have one person detained who will definitely be charged shortly.”

Marion Ali
“Is he cooperating?”

Alma Mortis
“No he’s not cooperating at this time.”

Marion Ali
“Have you recovered a murder weapon?”

Alma Mortis
“No, the investigation is still ongoing at this time. We have not recovered no weapon at this time.”

Marion Ali
“You say there were five others. What led you to this one particular individual?”

Alma Mortis
“I cannot reveal that information at this time.”

Marion Ali
“Was it based on what other witnesses have told you that fingers him?”

Alma Mortis
“You could say so, yes.”

The Ishim family meanwhile, is distraught at the slaying of their relative and is calling for swift justice.

Pedro Ishim Jr, Nephew of Deceased
“It is not fair that it is only us that suffers. Our uncle died and then maybe in a year or two that man is released and then another murder is caused. It’s not fair. We’re begging for justice.”

So far police have not charged anyone with the murder but still have the five suspects detained. Marion Ali for News Five.