Old beef over stolen bicycle motive for attempted murder

Raheem Crawford

The main cause of violence in Belize City streets continues to have its roots in cattle. Well, on the street it’s called “Old Beef.” And apparently an attempted murder occurred because of an ancient but not forgotten dispute over a bicycle. Eighteen year-old Raheem Crawford, an unemployed youth of Gibnut Street and twenty-five year old Mason Patnett, a construction worker of Ladyville were charged for shooting at twenty-one year old Marvin Bul in Vista Del Mar. The duo was also jointly charged with use of deadly means of harm and wounding. Crawford was additionally charged with one count of wounding upon Bul while Patnett was charged with abetment to commit murder.  In his official report, Bul said he was walking on Dove Street, when at about seven-forty-five a.m., a black car pulled up and stopped.  Patnett gave a gun to Crawford and several shots were fired at him, one of which caught him on his right shoulder. Seven expended shells were recovered from the scene.

Mason Patnett

Crawford told the court that he and the shooting victim had an “old beef” because Bul had pulled him from a bicycle and stole it. After that incident, Bul kept riding past by him on his own bicycle. Patnett told the magistrate that he did not commit a crime and he did not participate in an identification parade. He claims he is a victim since his girlfriend’s home was shot at following the incident.  In the case of Crawford, he told the court that Patnett is merely an acquaintance and he does not know why police are saying he abetted to commit a crime. Both men are to return to court on January fifteenth 2013.