4 are charged in connection with the murder of Jorge Blanco

Roger Hernandez

Late this evening, CIB personnel rushed over four Belize City men to court to charge them in connection with a murder and robbery that occurred on midday last Friday. This evening, twenty-one year old Alton Bailey, along with Mile eight resident and contractor, Roger Hernandez, and twenty-five year old Roger Concepcion Middleton, were jointly charged for the murder of truck driver Jorge Blanco in Sand Hill. The men appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith unrepresented and after the charge was read to them, they were all remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December sixteenth, 2013. Another Belize City resident, Frank Elijio was additionally charged with robbery, handling stolen goods, conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of drug trafficking for allegedly having in his possession sixty-one grams of cannabis.  Elijio pleaded not guilty to all charges and bail was objected to by the prosecutor.  Chief Magistrate Smith upheld the objection and also remanded Elijio to prison until December sixteenth.   Allegations are that on the day of the murder, he conspired with others to rob Johann Penner of nine thousand six hundred dollars. A portion of the stolen money was found with Elijio the next day. The murder victim was behind the wheels of a meat truck heading back to Yo Creek in the Orange Walk District when he was shot to the head. His employer, Johann Penner and his two sons were robbed at gunpoint.