Two stabbing incidents on Ambergris Caye

Belize City may be deemed murder capital but even the idyllic and peaceful La Isla Bonita is facing a crime wave.  Over the recent weeks several incidents have marred the reputation of San Pedro, the top tourist destination in Belize.  Last night two separate stabbing incidents were added to the growing list of criminal activities. The first incident occurred before one a.m. inside a popular beachfront nightclub.  Two former lovers, Rosa Roches and Steve Bowman met at the Tackle Box Nightclub and got into a heated argument.  Roches pulled out a knife from her purse and stabbed Bowen to the right side of his chest.  The solitary stab wound was deep and Bowen was immediately transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic in a critical but stable condition. Roches was arraigned in court today where she was charged with Grievous Harm. In front of Magistrate Emerson Banner, Roches pleaded Not Guilty to the charge.  She was offered bail and a surety of three thousand dollars.

The second stabbing on Ambergris Caye occurred around three thirty a.m.  The victim was found lying in front of his home on Angel Coral Street.  Twenty two year old Francisco “Chisto” Mendez was stabbed multiple times on his doorstep.  Unlike the previous incident, it wasn’t a crime of passion but a robbery.  Mendez, a full time student at San Pedro Junior College, also works as a part time supervisor at “Big Daddy’s Nightclub,” a family business.   According to police reports, Mendez was cut on his neck, chest, back and face. The robber was after a bag which contained the proceeds from one of the cashier’s at the night club.   The mugger got away with only four hundred and thirty seven dollars. The police investigation into this stabbing is ongoing. As a result of the crime wave on the island, a meeting of stakeholders including the Minister of Tourism, the town council, the business sector and the police was held this evening.