Belmopan Compre Teacher Slain in Orange Walk
Marcelo Azueta
There were three murders over the weekend, in Gardenia, Belize District where a bar owner was executed; in Belmopan where a woman was likely raped and murdered and up north in Orange Walk Town where a teacher was stabbed and killed. The Orange Walk resident is a teacher at the Belmopan Comprehensive High School and was home for the summer holidays. On Sunday morning, his body was found near the market in the downtown area. Police are yet to determine the motive for the murder, but the family believes it was triggered by robbery. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A teacher from Belmopan Comprehensive High School has lost his life in the ongoing cycle of violence. On Sunday morning, the body of thirty-nine year old Marcelo Azueta, a resident of Orange Walk Town, was discovered with cut wounds to the neck on Saint Peter’s Street near the market in that northern municipality. The teacher was reportedly out drinking and was attacked and killed.
ASP Selvyn Tillett, O.C., Orange Walk Police
“At five-fifteen a.m., acting upon information received, Orange Walk police visited an area on St. Peter’s Street next to the Barrack Football Field where they saw the motionless body of a male person in an open area with a single visible cut wound to the right side of neck. The body was identified by one Felipe Azueta, brother to the deceased, whose name was learn to be Marcelo Azueta, thirty-nine years Belizean teacher of corner of Golf Caye Street and San Antonio Road, Orange Walk Town.”
Selvyn Tillett
It is believed that Azueta was killed sometime around three a.m. on Sunday, two hours before his body was discovered. Police are currently looking for two persons who were reportedly seen fleeing the area on bicycles.
ASP Selvyn Tillett
“Sometime around three a.m., someone who was passing by heard a loud cry coming from the area where the body was found. Shortly thereafter, he saw two male persons riding off on bicycles. Motive for this murder is unknown at this moment. The scene was processed, the body was transported to the Northern Regional hospital where Doctor Delmi Lopez pronounced him dead. The only leads we are following is the two individuals seen fleeing the area. We have gotten descriptions of the persons and the bicycles they were riding. So hopefully we can trace down these individuals.”
The weapon has not been recovered as yet. It is not know whether the motive for the murder was robbery, but a family member told News Five, that Azueta returned home on Saturday evening with a cheque for six thousand dollars. After cashing the cheque, he went out drinking. His wallet and other belongings, however, were reportedly recovered at the scene.
Reporter
“Do you know if anything was taken from him?”
ASP Selvyn Tillett
“Not as yet.”
Duane Moody
“Anything else you can tell us on this incident sir?”
ASP Selvyn Tillett
“Not really. We just ask the public if anyone knows anything in the death of Mister Azueta, please come forth and assist the police. We need to try and solve these problems and we need to community to be working in close relation with the police.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
