72-year-old fatally stabbed
But just as the Criminal Investigation Branch continues its investigations into the Flowers murder, another homicide on the south side of Belize City was being reported. Around six this morning police officers found the body of an elderly man lying near Kut Avenue on East Collet Canal. And as Jacqueline Woods discovered, the violence has produced fear as well as death.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Seventy-two year old Ascencio Cruz, a Salvadoran National, lived in Belize for the past twenty years and helped to support his family by doing a number of jobs. Two months ago he finally managed to construct this small panades shop so his common-law wife could earn extra income. But this morning, as Cruz left on his bicycle to go on his routine trip to the market to buy masa, someone stabbed him to death on East Collet Canal, near Kut Avenue.
Aura Luz Gamez, Common-Law-Wife
“He was a responsible man, he nevah have enemy. He does work hard and he mi done old, he seventy-two, but he work hard for his children so his children got their food. He work hard, he dah mi a respectable person.”
Aura Luz Gamez did not wish to appear on camera because she feared for her life, but says the family is angry and wants the killer caught and punished.
Aura Luz Gamez
“All I could ask for is justice in this world because God wah do his part. That dah weh I say, mek they find the one who do it and mek the law take it in it?s hands because lot ah crime the happen right now and they kill you fi nothing. They shoulda put them bwai, if they catch ah?the one who do it?they should hang him the same way.”
At the crime scene police found Cruz’s lifeless body lying on the side of the street with a single stab wound to the left side of his chest. Cruz’s wallet containing fifteen U.S. dollars and his asthma spray were found near the body. A stocking authorities believe was used by the attacker to conceal his identity was also found at the scene in addition to a small pocket knife police believed to be the murder weapon.
Gamez says they strongly suspect the killer followed Cruz soon after he left the house and attacked him as he got further away from the neighbourhood.
Aura Luz Gamez
“That is what we believe, that somebody follow he because every morning he goh and buy masa and thing fi my panades shop, so somebody followed him.”
Police do not have any suspects and are once again calling on anyone who has information to please phone crime stoppers at 922. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
Police say because they did not find Cruz’s bicycle at the crime scene they believe the killer stole it after the killing. Our unofficial tally puts the number of murders so far this year at twenty-five.
