Headstone used in murder at Lord Ridge Cemetery
In the city, this morning the body of another murder victim was discovered. A twenty year old man was bludgeoned also on Friday night. The place where he was had his final breath is the place where he will be laid to eternal rest, that’s the Lord Ridge Cemetery. Marion Ali reports about this graveyard murder.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This swamp in the Lord Ridge Cemetery is the spot where the body of twenty year old Randy Coye was retrieved shortly around eight-thirty this morning. While the family is bitter over his murder, Coye met his death in a most gruesome way. The murderer or murderers apparently removed a bible headstone from this nearby grave and used it to pummel Coye’s head. The incident happened at a section of the cemetery that is away from the street side, it has no lighting at night, and is covered by thick overgrown bushes – the perfect spot for criminals. Residents of the area tell News Five that very often criminals use this same spot at night to commit robbery and rape.
Police and residents on neighbouring Pitter Street behind the cemetery believe that Coye was murdered last Friday night. The residents told News Five that they heard a man scream three times for help around eight on Friday night. Too scared to appear on camera for fear that they might be targeted, they told us that they ran out to check the area where the screams were heard, but could see nothing in the darkness. The last person to see Randy Coye alive was his aunt, Mary. She says he came by Friday evening just like he did on most evenings. But that evening he left early. Her home is less than five minutes walk from where his body was discovered.
Mary Lobo, Aunt of Murdered Man
“We had a little chat, I seh Randy go home safe because yoh di drink and I noh know if yoh high but memba fi bring mi Heineken fi me ah tell ah. And ih walk weh and gone bout ih business. Ih seh ih mi wah come back Saturday evening when ih come off from work. Cause ih gwein go do some lee work. Ih gwein go sleep fi get up fi go do some work. This morning when my neighbour holla tell me gial deh find wah body and we di bruk weh dah burying ground. When we reach deh nobody can’t go close fi go identify because we dah noh close family memba. Dah when di mother come I holla fi Ther, I seh gial go deh. She di faint weh and when she gone view di body ih seh ih gone.”
The residents of the area are hoping that the brutal murder of Randy Coye will result at least in a better kept area that will deter criminals from pouncing on those vulnerable in their neighbourhood. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
Police have not yet conclude what was the motive for the killing but they are not ruling out that it was gang related because Coye had relatives who are associated with a Belize City gang. The four other murder victims last week are Dylan Ayuso, Norman Gillett, Lorleen Young and Karina Daniels.
