Machete Madman Surrenders to Chester Williams and is Charged for Murder
Efrain Beltran Martinez
Police have been able to crack the murder of Elmer Salazar. On Wednesday, fifty-four-year-old Efrain Beltran Martinez surrendered himself to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, after being wanted for the chopping death of the Guatemalan national. The horrific incident in which the construction worker was viciously hacked, took place on the compound of Belize Marine and Mooring Services on Monday evening, shortly before five p.m. Beltran Martinez was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Patricia Arana a few hours ago where he was read a single charge of murder. Martinez, who only speaks Spanish, appeared unrepresented in court and was provided the services of a translator. Prior to the indictment, ASP Alejandro Cowo reviewed the details of the incident, as well as Martinez’s surrender.
Alejandro Cowo
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
“Sometime after 4:55 pm, police visited Belize Marine and Mooring Services located at four and a half miles on the George Price Highway, whereupon arrival they observed Mr. Salazar on the ground lying and suffering from several chop wounds to the body. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he died about half an hour later while receiving treatment. What police gathered so far is that Mr. Salazar had arrived at that location where he had a confrontation with several workers from that marine service and as a result one of the male persons inflicted several chop wounds at him. The male person then made good his escape and on yesterday’s date he handed over himself to the police.”
Isani Cayetano
“In making good his escape, did the suspect take off in a vehicle that was driven at the time by the deceased?”
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“He took a vehicle that belonged to the Belize Marine Mooring Services and that is what he used to escape from that area.”
Efrain Beltran Martinez was denied bail and subsequently remanded into custody until April thirtieth.
