Cain and Able; brother kills brother in Sandhill

Brandon Cabanas

2012 comes to a close with a record number of murders. One hundred and forty five persons have been killed across the country; the majority of victims were gunned down in the Belize District. But gang related killings are not the only cause. This year the explicit degradation of morality and values were shown not only in the number of carnal knowledge cases, but also in the murder stats. Some of the most brutal murder cases have spawned from within a dysfunctional family environment. Recent cases include the suffocation of an infant in Ladyville and the murder of the Skeen family, allegedly by one of their own. In fact two of the cases that mark the end of 2012 involves the murder and suicide of a couple and also a brother arrested for killing his blood brother. It’s a shocking start to 2013 as most programs are focused on gangs, not on dealing with violence within the home. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on the Cabanas family murder in Sand Hill.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A fight between two brothers ended fatal for one on Saturday. Just before ten on Friday night, twenty-three year old Brandon Cabanas was stabbed twice—to the left and right upper thigh—by his younger brother, twenty year old Edward Cabanas. Brandon, a father of a three year old boy, was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the following morning. According to reports, the brothers were socializing at their mother’s residence in Sand Hill near miles nineteen and half on the Phillip Goldson Highway when they became involved in a fight which ended with Edward stabbing Brandon.

Raphael Martinez

Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer

“There was a stabbing incident that occurred in Sandhill Village on Friday night. Police were called to an area in Sandhill Village where there was an apparent altercation between two brothers; Brandon and Edwardo Cabanas. Edwardo reportedly pulled out a knife and inflicted stab wound to his brother Brandon. Since then police have formally arrested and charged Edwardo Cabanas, twenty years old mechanic of nineteen and three quarter miles on the Philip Goldson Highway for the crime of murder.”

The weapon has been recovered and police has since arrested and charged Edward, a Belizean Mechanic with Murder. Duane Moody for News Five.

Edward Cabanas

While it is said that the stabbing was in self-defense, Edward Cabanas was arraigned this morning for the murder of his brother when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith. No plea was taken; Edward was denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until January thirtieth, 2012.