The King of Karaoke is laid to rest, but his killer is yet to be charged
Daniel Aguirre
Police have yet to charge any suspect for the murder of popular Belmopan taxi-man Daniel Aguirre. But according to a source close to the case, investigating officers are one step closer to arraigning a Belize City man on that offence. The suspect is currently on lockdown, serving time for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, after it is alleged that he led Belmopan Police to a nine-millimeter pistol he had stashed. That pistol was identified as belonging to Aguirre, whose burned remains were found in his taxi just off the George Price Highway in Teakettle on Saturday. Tonight, Aguirre’s grieving family is waiting for justice to be served, even as they struggle to cope with the loss of their loved one. Mike Rudon was in Belmopan today and has the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
Daniel Aguirre’s family cannot understand why twenty-nine year old Noel Alexander Torres has not been charged for the cruel murder of their father and brother. This morning they laid the charred remains of the popular taxi-man and karaoke champion to rest. But they are far from finding peace for what they say was a senseless murder.
Veronica Aguirre, Sister of Deceased
Veronica Aguirre
“Because da nothing nice to do to my brother. Dehn kill my brother like dehn kill wah dog and my brother is not that.”
According to the family and other sources we spoke to, Torres has already confessed to the murder of Aguirre. Torres has led the Police to Aguirre’s gun, and allegedly to a knife which was used to kill him. They say that is enough for the charge of murder to be laid. But even that will not ease the pain this family is feeling.
Veronica Aguirre
“One special. my brother noh mess around with nobody. My brother worked hard, hard, hard for the family. This is the thing weh hurts me because my brother dah noh man weh smoke weed; dah noh di theif…no do nothing wrong. He di work dah night, dah day fi this child. He di work hard fi send ih pickney them to school, to maintain the house, to maintain the wif…make nothing fault fi food. This dah fi he. This that happen I don’t understand. Fi what ih noh kill the bad people. For what he had to kill my brother? My brother noh do nothing to he. This dah my question to he; for what he killed my brother? If he only want thief, only thief the money. He noh have to kill my brother for that. why noh thief the money and leave my brother like that.”
Voice of: Close Family Friend
“We need justice. Because today he is in jail; he gets bail tomorrow. The following day a following victim will come. More kids will be left without their fathers. I born, I grow in Belmopan; I am so scared about this murder they did to this boy. It is too much for this family going through this pain. I really need dehn do justice for this crime. Don’t let it stay just like this because many kids will be staying without their fathers. They are innocent child; they don’t deserve growing without their father.”
As Torres was arraigned in court on Wednesday, family and friends of the fallen karaoke champion gathered to express their anger, sorrow and pain at his senseless murder. His oldest daughter, Ana Victoria, wants justice for her father’s death.
Ana Victoria Aguirre
Ana Victoria Aguirre, Daughter of Deceased
“One thing I wanna say is that I want them to get—if they are police like they say they are—I just want them to put themselves and put their hands in the heart and do something. And I just want they do something for my father’s death.”
Torres was arraigned along with forty nine year old Miguel Dominguez, forty-one year old Blanca Dominguez and a minor. They reside in the home in Teakettle where Torres stashed Aguirre’s gun. All three were remanded to prison until December twelfth, while Torres was sentenced to eleven years, though he will only serve five, at least on the firearm offences. Mike Rudon for News Five.
News Five understands from a source close to the investigation that the D.P.P. has issued further instructions to Police, and has asked for additional information before she makes her decision on whether to charge the suspect with the murder of Aguirre.
