Two 18-year-old males are in jail tonight for Wednesday night's execution style murder of Alberto 'Betito' Saragoza Jr. at Old College Beach. This afternoon Roger Batty Jr. and Kyle Edwards were arraigned in Magistrate's Court. 'Betito' Saragoza was at Old College Beach, which is just off of Caesar Ridge Road, around 9 on Wednesday night in his car with a female friend. Two men dressed in black sprung on the two and "Betito" was dragged out of the car and shot in his head. He died on the spot while his female friend managed to escape.
Police rounded up suspects and after an ID parade, Batty and Edwards were charged. Batty's relatives swear he couldn't have committed the murder since he was 50 miles away in Roaring Creek Village. But police investigators say they are also doubly sure, and they charged the right suspects. Acting Commander of the Criminal Investigations Branch Inspector Oscar Puga told 7NEWS that the motive for the murder was simply a robbery.
Insp. Oscar Puga, Acting Commander of C.I.B.
"We came to the apprehension of two suspects which basically ran us through an identification parade today whereby both persons were positively identified by witnesses."
Keith Swift,
Have you determined what was the motive for this crime?
Insp. Oscar Puga,
"Through reliable witnesses we have confirmed that the motive is robbery."
Keith Swift,
The family of Batty is claiming that he was in Roaring Creek for the past 3 weeks and that you guys had to go up to Roaring Creek to get him. What is your response to that?
Insp. Oscar Puga,
"Our relevant information is that he was positively identified fleeing from the scene of the crime, that is all I can say at this time. However, yes the police did apprehend out of the jurisdiction of Belize City but like I mentioned, our information and reliable sources is that he was seen around the scene of the crime at the time."
Keith Swift,
Saragoza's family told me yesterday they believe he was lured to his death by the female he was with. Was that a factor in your investigation?
Insp. Oscar Puga,
"No. As a matter of fact it did not come up any at all. We investigated all angles possible and the motive we came up with was robbery so at this time it doesn't seem anybody lured him to that area."
Keith Swift,
What did they get away with?
Insp. Oscar Puga,
"As far as we are concerned, it is not specified as yet. We have gone through the victim's car which is a Toyota Corolla, a four door car, and the family cannot verify at this time if anything at all was stolen."
Keith Swift,
Was this a random crime or was Mr. Saragoza targeted?
Insp. Oscar Puga,
"At this time our investigation reveals that it was a possible random robbery."
Both accused were denied bail and remanded to the Hattievlle Prison until August 11th. Roger Batty's relatives say they have a witness who can vouch that he was in roaring creek on Wednesday night.
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