Two charged for weekend murder
Considering that it was a four day holiday weekend and that we are in the midst of an epidemic of fatal violence, the fact that there is only one murder to report tonight can almost be considered good news. That’s how bad things are. The fact is that every homicide brings more than its share of sorrow. Marion Ali has the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Nine hours after Belize’s latest murder, police had charged two brothers in connection with the crime. This morning, twenty-two year old Gilbert Martinez and nineteen year old Nelson Martinez, both residents of West Street, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Margaret Gabb.
They were remanded to the Hattieville Prison until April third on one count of Murder and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder following Sunday night’s shooting which claimed the life of thirty year old Windel Allen. Allen had just left home on Queen Charlotte Street to visit a friend around seven-thirty. An eyewitness conveyed to us off camera what transpired.
Marion Ali
“Allen was at this park with six others when two men on bicycles came from this direction, asking for a man called “Tasher”. They asked Tasher about a stolen cell phone and then rode off, but returned within minutes, looking again for Tasher. When they didn’t find him they asked the group where he was and when no one responded, one of them pulled out what appeared to be a pen gun and shot Allen at point blank range at this location.”
Allen’s aunt could not believe her ears because she had seen her nephew only minutes before.
Aunt of Murder Victim
“When ih gone, ten minutes time wah boy come ih holla miss, miss. Ih seh da yah di boy live? Deh call ah Bredda. Ih seh da yah Bredda live? Ah tell ah yes. Ih seh ih just get shot. Ah tell ah no man, can’t be Bredda just left from yah. Ih seh yes, ih get shot eena ih face. He mi just, just, just left from home. He eat and bathe and he seh Auntie I going go tek wah lee walk. Ah seh alright go. When ih gone ih seh oh I want di key but he noh stay out until late.”
The bullet penetrated Allen’s face and lodged behind his right eye. He died from his wound on Monday. Brenda Allen said her son had only come to Belize City from his hometown in San Ignacio three weeks ago seeking employment, when his life was cut short.
Brenda Allen, Mother of Murder Victim
“Ih tell mi ih di come da Belize because yah he sure he could get work. Dat da what ih tell me because ih seh da Cayo ih can’t get work. Ih seh when ih get work, ih seh ah wah go work and when ah get work da Belize ih seh ah sure ah wah could help yoh more. Ih seh because you see I can’t get work da Cayo. Ah tell ah da true yo can’t get work da Cayo. But yoh have to mind how yoh di come out. Ih seh noh worry ah noh have no friend. Ih seh so noh worry I know fi tek care ah miself.”
Aunt of Murder Victim
“Dis dah lone stupidness weh they di do now. Dis dah lone stupidness weh they di do. Innocent people di dead mein. Wrong man get it, wrong man get it.”
Police also believe Allen was not the initial target. They were able to make an arrest in this particular shooting through public cooperation. The type of weapon used has not yet been ascertained. Reporting for News Five, I am Marion Ali
Allen’s murder is number twenty-four for 2008.
