He had been accused of the murder of wealthy real estate heiress Therese Blake in October of 2000, one of the most high profile murders ever recorded in Belize, but tonight Ernest kemp is the dead man.

Kemp was killed last night at about 9:00 pm as he stepped out of his home in the new housing area on Carillo Puerto Avenue, reportedly to pull a plantain leaf to roll up a smoke. But as he stepped outside, someone was waiting in the bushes and shot him three times at close range. Kemp died on the spot, and neighbors report that they saw someone running off.

Police have detained the one man who was in the home with him, but the family describes him as a friend. kemp had been living in Santa Elena for four months.

Tags Therese Blake Santa Elena