Belmopan court hands down 12, 13 year sentences for manslaughter

A Guatemalan national was sentenced to twelve years today in the Belmopan Supreme Court by Judge Troadio John Gonzalez while another who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter got thirteen years behind bars. Fifty-six year old Wayne Gabb, a resident of Ontario Village, Cayo District was convicted of the stabbing death of Prison Officer, Marcus Ishim which occurred on January twelfth, 2009 at the Capital Entertainment Complex in Belmopan. Gabb and Ishim got into an argument at about three a.m. on the verandah of Capital Entertainment. Christopher Emmanuel and Daniel Puerto both told the court that they saw when Gabb stabbed Ishim because he was enraged that Ishim had used foul language against him.  No weapon was found at the crime scene but the examining doctor said that Ishim died from a single stab wound to the heart.  In his defense, Gabb gave conflicting versions.  Firstly,  he said he was nowhere at the crime scene then later from a dock statement, he said Ishim chased him with what appeared to be a knife, however, he manage to get away by jumping onto a nearby bus.

Meanwhile, thirty-eight year old Alejandro Hernandez Damian, who was also on trial for murder, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Manslaughter. On December seventh, 2007 Hernandez bashed a fellow Guatemalan on the head while he slept on the floor of a Bar. Clementino Enriquez Jr. was hit three times with a rock and was rushed to the hospital, but later died. But the incident was witnessed by Julio Vasquez and it was after his testimony that Hernandez pleaded guilty and was handed a twelve year sentence.