Remembering 2 slain Cayo females

Suzenne Martinez

There are parallels to be drawn between the murders of Jasmine Lowe and Suzenne Martinez. Both young women, residents of the Cayo district, were attacked, murdered and their bodies discarded. And like in the case of Jasmine, the suspect in the murder of Suzenne was found with her personal belongings. News Five’s Isani Cayetano takes a closer look at the ongoing investigations and why murder charges on Pedro Ical may be hard to substantiate in the case of Suzenne.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Jasmine Lowe

Since the discovery of the lifeless body of twenty year old Suzenne Martinez a week ago, numerous comparisons have been made contrasting the circumstances surrounding her death with that of thirteen year old Jasmine Lowe.  Both young ladies were residents of the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, respectively.  Like Lowe, who was slain almost four months earlier, Suzenne was viciously attacked and left for dead in an overgrown patch.  Jasmine was en route to Belmopan while Suzenne was returning home from school in that municipality; neither made it to their final destination.

In the wake of the first homicide, a throng of angry residents staged a demonstration near the steps of San Ignacio’s magistrates’ court where Vasquez, believed to be involved in the commission of the crimes, was being arraigned.  In Ical’s case, he was escorted to court last Friday but was subsequently released into the custody of Belmopan police for further charges.  In both instances, the mob, understandably livid, was out for blood, calling repeatedly for the implementation of capital punishment.  In seeking justice, the aggrieved families, as well as the wider public, have turned to the police department for assistance in solving these cases.  The department, on the other hand, in yielding to their demand, may have erred when senior officers came forward in the media, perhaps prematurely, to divulge specific details of their investigations.

Supt. Ralph Moody, Officer Commanding, San Ignacio Police [File: October 3^rd, 2012]

Ralph Moody

“We conducted an investigation into the matter where we have one male person detained who is a suspect in this case. I must say also that I believe that this person is a concerned person to the murder in Belmopan. We also have the Belmopan [Crimes Investigation Branch] C.I.B. involved in this matter. We recovered several pieces of jewelries and as well we have prints matching the prints in that area, along with the female. There is no sign of bruise on her body, no sign of marks, with the exception of one footprint that matches the suspect’s boots. That print was on the female, over her private area, [on] one of her legs.”

Despite the fact that the brass of the San Ignacio Police Formation has arguably disclosed sensitive information to the public regarding these matters, justice in Belize is a slow moving vehicle.  The gathering of admissible evidence, to begin with, is often a difficult undertaking for scenes of crime technicians.  In Jasmine’s case a ring, given to her by her mother, was later found in the possession of Bert Vasquez, her accused killer.  Along with a pair of witnesses, who reported seeing the girl scout inside Vasquez’s vehicle heading towards the Cristo Rey Road, the ring, which would have been considered circumstantial evidence.  The fact that her body was later found in the vicinity of Cristo Rey, ties him directly to Jasmine, hence he was charged with murder.  Conversely, a cell phone belonging to Suzenne Martinez, later found on Pedro Ical, without proof of how it came into his possession, cannot warrant a charge of murder.

Pedro Ical

The Director of Public Prosecutions, in effecting her duty, carefully pored over the evidence presented and presumably determined that at this time there is insufficient evidence to lay a charge of murder.  She then directed police to do a further investigation.  In his interview with the media, Superintendent Moody confirmed that the shoeprint found on the victim’s lower body was identical to Pedro Ical’s footwear, an assertion that could prompt a challenge of Moody’s qualification in making such determination.

Nonetheless, an angry public, including COLA representative Murphy McLaren has called for her head.

Murphy McLaren, Member of COLA

Murphy McLaren

“What is happening to us is that the system of investigation is weak.  The system of prosecution is also weak.  I listen to everybody say the D.P.P.  The D.P.P. should have gone long before she even took office.  She was not the most qualified, she was not the best qualified but it’s a political thing that is happening and it’s a political game being played with our judiciary and our justice system.”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow today affirmed conditions within the Laws of Belize that prohibit parliamentary interference with the function of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Dean Barrow

Via Phone: Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“The D.P.P. is a constitutional position, the security of tenure of that office is guaranteed and the independence from any kind of directive from the executive, or any kind of interference is also enshrined in the constitution.”

While the situation on the ground remains fluid heading into Thursday’s planned district-wide shutdown, the charges brought against Pedro Ical in both instances, involving the murders of Robert Lewis and Suzenne Martinez, appear to be a reflection of the police department’s inability to secure useful evidence. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.