2009’s ninety-first murder; wife accused of killing husband

It is the nation’s ninety-first murder for this year and it happened within three days of the Christmas. The murder of Albert Morgan is all too shocking and his wife, a mother of four, is in custody and is expected to be charged. Police believe Audrey Morgan used a butcher knife from her kitchen to stab her husband in his chest and arm. There are few witnesses who would speak on camera, but Albert’s body was discovered around three this morning on the steps of the couple’s home. The security guard who was stationed at Provident Bank, is the father of his wife’s two children. News Five’s Marion Ali has more in the following report.

Marion Ali, Reporting
The body of twenty-six year old Albert Morgan was discovered at around three this morning on the steps of his Belize City home on North Creek. His wife, Audrey, a traffic warden and mother of four young children, allegedly called the police after she grabbed one of her own kitchen knives and stabbed her husband twice. Rashida Thomas is a cousin of the deceased and lives in the same yard as the Morgan’s. She said her family was not aware of the incident until an hour later.

Rashida Thomas, Relative of Deceased
“We never hear anything, no ruction no screaming, no yelling, no nothing until about three o’clock when we get fi find out that something happen when my mother-in-law came and knock on my door and said something happen to Junie.”

Thomas said she ran out to see how serious it was, but never expected to see her cousin dead on the steps.

Rashida Thomas
“When I came out I see Junie di lay down pan di step and police mi di do what dehn mi suppose to di do. We never heard them arguing, we noh hear dehn get eena any fuss and the children are right there.”

Audrey, told police that it was someone else who barged into their home and killed her husband, but that story soon changed and she claimed self-defense.

Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“The investigators have now found that the story initially given was not true and there is a suspect that is in custody.”

Marion Ali
“The wife?”

Clement Palacio
“A spouse, I am not certain about their marital status. But the investigators have been liaising with the D.P.P. who will determine what pertinent charges will be levied.”

Marion Ali
“You said that the scenario has changed. The initial position was what? And what’s the new position?”

Clement Palacio
“Initially we said this morning, via the release, that somebody entered the house and stabbed the victim.”

Marion Ali
“A stranger?”

Clement Palacio
“A male person, we just said a male person.”

Marion Ali
“And now the position?”

Clement Palacio
“The position is that a spouse is in police custody and as I mentioned the D.P.P. is going to direct what charges will be read.”

Marion Ali
“Is she claiming self-defense? Is she saying that it was a case of domestic abuse?”

Clement Palacio
“Well, of course in an investigation I wont go into that but I can tell you that a caution statement has been given by the suspect.”

Relatives at the scene told News Five off camera that Audrey said she stabbed her husband in self-defense. But that statement surprised them because they say they never knew the couple had serious domestic problems. Secondly, Albert never appeared to be the abusive type.

Rashida Thomas
“If they had any dispute they did it really silently for no one to hear and as you can see the houses are very close so if anything; any yelling or screaming at one another we would have heard. Last time I see Junie dah mi yesterday dah my worksite. He passed bout four and ih tell mi gial yeah, I want some gas. Soh I ask weh yoh wah put di gas Junie? Eena mi back tire. And I laugh.”

The knife used as the murder weapon was found in a nearby yard. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

News Five has learned that the four children, all of primary school age, are now with Audrey Morgan’s mother.