Stabbing Murder in Dangriga; One Person Detained
Ronald Gill
Two persons lost their lives at the hands of another in less than twenty-four hours over the weekend, but only one at this time is being classified as a murder. We begin this segment of the newscast with the broad daylight stabbing death of thirty-eight-year-old Ronald Gill around midday on Saturday on George Price Drive in Dangriga. What triggered the argument between Gill and his killer, who residents tell News Five is his cousin, is unknown at this time, but within minutes, a knife was introduced and used to stab the labourer from Lakeland Street multiple times to the back and chest. Gill died on the spot. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Ronald Gill left his home on Lakeland Street to purchase something to eat at a nearby fast food establishment on George Price Drive in Dangriga. That’s when an argument ensued between him and a man, who residents say is his cousin. Shortly after, the man pulled out a knife from the waist of his pants and stabbed Gill several times to the body. The incident was witnessed by the proprietor of the fast food shop, Edna Broaster, who recounted what happened.
Edna Broaster
Edna Broaster, Witness
“I noh know what the argument bout. Dehn di argue with one another rout yah. Pungas gone soh; D.P. gone soh. Liek twenty minutes after, D.P. come with wah knife. Dah gwen di bwai mi gwen, take ahn in back on. Ih give ahn eight stabs back on. All i coulda mi do dah bawl and bawl. So much people mi deh out yah; nobody noh help. Like wah knife like this, straight down ina ih heart. The last stab weh ih get back yah that make ih drop. Then he get over ahn like this and Ih continue start to stab. I deh out yah di bawl.”
Today, a cement block with a blue rag marks the spot where Gill bled to death. Police say that the alleged killer is in their custody.
Fitzroy Yearwood
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department
“I know that investigators have someone detained and hopefully by the end of the day we will be able to levy charges against that person.”
According to witnesses, police arrived on the scene about thirty minutes after Gill was killed. His body was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital after residents requested assistance from the driver of a trailer belonging to the town council. Broaster believes that the stabbing could have been avoided; she explains why.
Edna Broaster
“From the time the argument start, I call the police. I tell ahn unu come; thing di happen out yah. Dehn noh come. I call again; I call again. Dehn say dehn deh pan dehn way. The last call I give them, I tell dehn di man dead. Like half an hour after, then the police dehn reach. So town council trailer mi di pass and I stop it and I beg dehn if dehn could please ker di body dah di hospital and dehn ker di body dah hospital.”
While she mustered the strength to speak with News Five today, Broaster says that she’s been left traumatised.
Edna Broaster
“First time I see something like that. Whole day that dehn pan me. Whole night I can’t sleep. Yesterday mawning, dah di same thing deh pan me and this mawning dah di same thing cause first time I di see something like that happen out yah.”
But what triggered the conflict that would ultimately conclude with Gill’s life being ended?
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“We have been informed that it’s an ongoing back and forth argument between the deceased and the person we have in custody. But at the same time, no argument would warrant you to take someone’s life. So we are just waiting for directives and then we will know exactly what we will charge that person with. A life has been lost and we are investigating that loss of life. That doesn’t mean that it will be discounted in any matter or manner. If it is a murder, he will be charged for it. If it is a directive that we must charge for manslaughter, we will do that. Whichever way the directive comes, we will be charging that person.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
