Jamil Betancourt detained in relation to Jason Coombs’ murder
JAMIL BETANCOURT
With public outcry against crime at an all time high, police made a number of arrests over the weekend in unresolved murder cases. Businessman Jason Coombs was murdered back in the evening of November eleventh, 2009 while at his construction site in the area of the Port Authority compound. According to sources Jamil Betancourt is believed to be linked to the getaway car. Six months after the cold blooded murder, Orange Walk police raided a house in San Lorenzo Housing Site where Jamil Betancourt had been hiding for the past few months. News Five’s Jose Sanchez was in the north today and found out that Betancourt has been transported to Belize City where he is being held for questioning.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
In the San Lorenzo area of Orange Walk Town, where the streets have no name, a bungalow house behind a very high wooden fence was the hideout for a man wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Jason Coombs, a Belize City businessman.
Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette, O.C. Orange Walk Police
“Police captured Jamal Betancourt, twenty-seven years of a Belize City address, who we know is wanted in connection with a murder investigation in Belize City.”
It is not the first brush with the law for Jamil Betancourt. In 2006 he was charged for the attempted murder and in 2007 he was charged but eventually freed of double homicide. Despite his challenging background, his former neighbor said he was peaceful and helpful.
Jose Sanchez
“Maria when was the first time you noticed Mister Jamil Betancourt?”
Voice of: Maria, Neighbor of Jamil Betancourt
“Couple months he was living beside me and we get in touch with him because he passed by and said hello. Eventually he got used to us and we just had a nice relationship as neighbors. He was a nice, he is a nice person. The only thing that I can say that we will miss him a lot because he was a nice person.”
Jose Sanchez
“Did you interact with him? Did you come over to his yard?”
Voice of: Maria
“Yes, I used to come and get some habanero peppers because he had his habanero peppers there. He would help do the yard; he would my son to chop the yard just like any other neighbor. It was about ten o’clock I was doing my cooking when I saw the cops came. First only one vehicle came and they started to search him. We came out to see what is going on because he is our friend. I saw they took him and I asked the cops what he did and they didn’t’ say anything. Then they went and about two-thirty they came back. This time three vehicles came; blue ride, then came the CIB pickup, and the one from Belize. Then I saw they put him in, they search the yard. They search everything. I watched everything that happened. CTV-3, I saw they were taking footage and then they took him away.”
According to his former neighbor, Betancourt received at least one visitor.
Jose Sanchez
“Did he have a lot of company? Did people come over to visit him?”
Voice of: Maria
“His wife—well I don’t know if it’s his wife but he said this is my wife. That’s who visited him; his or girlfriend.”
Jose Sanchez
“What did she look like?”
Voice of: Maria
“Brown skin, beautiful shape. But her face, I didn’t notice her face because I wasn’t really watching her. But she’s a really nice person so I don’t know. I even called taxi for her to go to her work. She said it was her work so I can’t believe he did something like that.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Police are still investigating who owned the house and who was responsible for payment of utility bills where Betancourt was hiding. It is still not confirmed what charges, if any, will be brought against him.
He was a good neighbor until you piss him, or get on his bad side.
Why would someone be hiding for months from the police if he is innocent of a crime, if he was involved in that murder hope justice finds him now.
His girlfriend should be charged for a crime as well, how can she sleep on the same pillow with a man suspected of such a crime.
it only shows that there is someone out there for each one of us. she loved her hard cold criminal enough to risk seeing him. love is out there for everyone.
YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE!!!!
HOPE THEY HANG THIS ANIMAL!!!!
AND ON THE LEFT THE SO CALLED GIRLFREIND.
I AGREE WITH YOU MADDYVANDIJK SHE IS AS GUILTY AS HE IS.
Wave radio “JOE” complained that channel5 went to orange walk to to cover this story in which the police did a good job. the police caught a murderer, that should be headline news. What Knowitall Joe forgot to mention was that Channel7 was there also, and Alfonso Noble his co-host of Wave Radio and Editor of Guardian Newspaper.
Joe hates at anything that is good. So Good work Orange Walk Police, i hope the evidence is strong enough to convict this man who was seeing coming out of the car.
Did we read the same story??? Boy we sure are quick to judge.
This is the animal that killed my cousin in 07… and he’s a free man….shame on belize…
I am not condoning what the man did, but he is innocent as far as we know so far. The news did not say he was being held for the murder itself. He is only being questioned in connection with the murder. As for the whole girlfriend situation, yall are some ignorant aholes. Majority of you who leave comments on here are. Yall are just quick to judge and never look at the facts. You are all guilty of crimes against humanity for wanting to kill a man who is accused of these crimes. If there is no evidence of it he cannot be held guilty of doing it. Leave it to God because he never sleeps. I will also pray for all of you because you want to crucify this man. I noh give him wrong for hiding out from the police. In case yall have not been keenly listening and reading the news they are responsible for majority of the murders in this country. Don’t hear yall saying hang them. What ignorant people yall are, damn!
I Think the people of belize and in all district should be in strict alert in doing neighborhood watch and report everything they see, so they can help themselves and there loves ones from getting hurt innocently . U got to do thing for your self because if u don’t nobody else going to do it for u and maybe u going to start getting a little better result.
The gang work together , the china work together , the police work together , know it is time for the public to come together and secure there streets or they gob start bringing in back curfew .
If Belzeans are unwilling to stand up and take back their country then they deserve what’s coming…. and coming it will. The gangs are going to have their way with the citizens and more people will die. I guess more casualties are needed to bring them to their senses.
LOGIC – Did you hear what NY said above. Have you done your research on this known killer? It’s all over the internet. The only ignorant @$$!@#$ is you for not doing your home work before posting (ignorant comments). He was seen leaving the vehicle involve in the murder. He is a known
hit-man, and a obvious cover up and pay off to those that held high post within the police department transpired.
you ppl are so out of order, nobody is perfect u calling him an animal and u dont knw him. u ppl need to stop throw stones caz a lot of u live in glass house!!!! anyway he is still here and and still breeding haterzzz!!! he is a good person!!!!
since he did all these crime y isnt he in jail??? u ppl are ignorant and stupid!!!!!