Elderly Man Stabbed Multiple Times in Ladyville Home Invasion
Michael Avilez
There was a home invasion in Ladyville in which an elderly man was brutally stabbed multiple times. Sixty-one-year-old Michael Avilez was inside him house when two persons stomped in the door and robbed him of one hundred and ten dollars, but not before gun butting him to the head and stabbing him twice to the chest. Police have since detained two persons, who are known to Avilez, a twenty-year-old and a twenty-one-year-old also from Marage Road in Ladyville for the near-fatal incident. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
An elderly man was the victim of a home invasion on Sunday night off the Marage Road in Ladyville, Belize District. Just before midnight, sixty-one-year-old Michael Avilez was inside his house when he was awoken by at least two persons stomping his front door. The burglars, who are reportedly from the neighbourhood, gained entrance to the structure and put a beating on Avilez; he was also stabbed at least twice to the chest.
William Garbutt, Relative of Victim
“He had already locked his door and I called out to him and at first he wasn’t responding to open the door; maybe he was afraid that the guys came back. So I told him uncle it is me, open the door. So when we open the door, I saw blood gushing out from over his eye cause he had a big burst over his eyebrow. We took him out of the house and put him to sit down. My girlfriend said uncle dah how yo shirt wet up? Yo know dah ina di night so we sat him under the tree. When I open his shirt, I saw two holes under his heart. And I tell him uncle it looks like you got stabbed and there was blood pouring out from it. But he was responding quite good. So I told him, “no, we need to carry you to the hospital.” So he gone inside and change off his pants cause he was full up with blood. And we went to the police station, informed them what had happen and I rushed him down to Belize City hospital.”
William Garbutt is in a common-law relationship with Avilez’s niece and they live in an adjacent structure in the same yard. They were asleep when they heard the ruckus, but for their safety, did not exit their house until the assailants left the area.
William Garbutt, Relative of Victim
“I was sleeping and I heard someone coming through the back because the dog was barking. I just laid there and I hear the person talking about they wanted weed. And then I heard the banging on the door over there, so I was going to get up, but then I think and said I am in here with my girlfriend and kid and I don’t know how many people out there. They kicked the door like two or three times and then they left. I heard uncle saying I don’t have nothing, I noh have nothing. And then a lee while after that, I hear running and they stomp the door—continuously stomp the door. At this time, I took my girlfriend and put her on the floor and they continued stomping the door. In fear for my life and my kid, we just stayed put. All we were thinking is we just want it to be over. They started beating him up and he was telling them I don’t have anything. And finally, I don’t know if he had something on him, some money, but he just told them huh, huh, huh and after that, ih look like they got what they wanted it and quiet down.”
According to the family, this is the third time that Avilez had been targeted. This, however, is the first time that he had been stabbed. He lives a humble life, making and selling wine in the village. The family believes that he was targeted by persons he knew because they felt he had money.
William Garbutt
“Uncle noh fool with nobody or anything like that. Only thing, whenever he take wah lee drink, he like mention, “I rich.” But I think because he like holler that, they mussi think he have lotta money. The only thing they get from uncle dah mussi a hundred and ten dollars. Uncle noh have no lotta money; watch weh uncle live.”
According to Avilez, two men entered the house while another stood outside; the men wielded a gun and a knife. Two persons have since been detained for the incident, pending further investigation by the Ladyville Police.
Hilberto Romero
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“They both demanded money from him and began questioning him about monies he had in the house. They did not find anything at the time, but the male person proceeded to stab him two twice to the chest at which point he handed over one hundred and ten dollars in Belize currency. Both male persons then fled from the area; he then got in touch with his neighbours and made a report at the Ladyville Police Station. Two persons are detained for investigation at this time at the Ladyville Police Station.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
