Two charged with rape in separate incidents

Two alleged sexual predators have been charged in separate incidents in southern Belize. In Punta Gorda a nineteen year old farmer has been formally arraigned on charges of rape and carnal knowledge in connection with a sexual assault on his eight year old niece. Also charged with rape was twenty-six year old Guatemalan Victor Leiva, a farmer of Trio Village. Leiva was arrested based on the complaint of a thirteen year old girl who told Independence police that in March he took her to his house and forced her to engage in sexual intercourse with him. In other crime news, a post mortem on the body of Mirna Figueroa has concluded that she died of strangulation. The likely weapon? A two foot long piece of vine, locally known as ti-tai, that was found near her neck. Four men have been charged with the nineteen year old woman’s murder, which occurred in a remote area between the Southern Highway and Hopkins Village.