Ontario villager charged w/ six counts of murder

For the third time in as many days, this morning News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin and Chris Mangar hit the Western Highway, this time to get a first hand look at the man accused of single-handedly murdering a family of six … and destroying a small community’s sense of peace.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today twenty-seven year old Belizean Albert Ara better known as Ali was handcuffed as police escorted him to San Ignacio?s Magistrate Court where he was arraigned on six counts of murder and one count of arson for the tragic deaths of twenty-eight year old Elias Mayen Ayala and twenty-two year old Maria Suchite and the couples? four children: seven year old Ingrid Yanira, six year old Alex, four year old Marco Antonio and two year old Victor. According to the head of the investigation team and senior superintendent of police James Magdaleno the crime scene is one he will not soon forget.

Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno, Head, Investigating Team
?It was the way how these children were killed and it has to be somebody responsible for it. Hence the reason we gave it our all and did an intensive investigation to capture this person.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Do you believe at the time the kids were sleeping or were they very well aware of what was happening??

James Magdaleno
?Definitely, from our investigation thus far, it is indicating that the kids were asleep when the incident and the commotion occurred within the confines of the house.?

Ara, a resident of neighbouring Ontario Village, showed no emotions as he walked into the courtroom. However the crowd that had gathered across the police station shouted, ?Bun Ah!? at the accused. According to Magdaleno, investigations so far reveal that a senseless argument and the influence of alcohol led to what is described as one of the most devastating crimes in Belize?s history.

James Magdaleno
?They were drinking. And you when people start to drink and they get drunk all sorts of things start to happen. Arguments, unnecessary arguments occur and basically that is what happened inside the house which led to the incident that occurred.?

Unconfirmed reports are that Ara chopped Mayen in the head after shortly after he fired a spear gun at Maria Suchite. The family?s house was then set ablaze, trapping the family of six inside. Post mortems have since revealed that the family burnt to death. Today Magdaleno says during a caution statement Ara not only placed himself at the crime scene but said he was sorry for what had happened.

James Magdaleno
?A caution statement was recorded from him in front of a justice of the peace where he implicated himself.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?What was his demeanour??

James Magdaleno
?He was cool. There was some remorse and at some point he mentioned that he was sorry that it occurred, but it happened already so the law has to take its course.?

Present at the arraignment were the Mayen?s family friend Hector Gonzales and Roberto Pineda, the watchman who heard the terrifying screams for help and later alerted the police.

Roberto Pineda, Watchman
?English translation: ?Right after midnight something woke me up and I started praying and then suddenly I heard two big screams. Then I started praying and then I got my phone and then I dialled 911 and called the police then I saw the fire. Right now my family is having a terrible time coping with this tragedy and we are scared for our lives.?

The Pineda family has since moved from Iguana Creek to an undisclosed location. And while the community remains traumatized, Gonzales says residents are comforted by the quick arrest.

Hector Gonzales, Family Friend
?When we heard the news last night it was some relief for the family. We feel okay because we had to do so much, and the community and the church got together and it was a good turn out. We had the funeral on Wednesday. We are doing okay.?

James Magdaleno
?It was a team effort with the officers. In fact when you went to the scene that day there were several officers there. We had Mr. Henderson?s staff, we had the Special Branch and we had the crime squad, so it was a team effort that led to the quick arrest of this individual.?

Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.

Today Ara was also additionally charged on one count of Burglary after he was positively identified in an October tenth 1995 incident in the Cayo District.