And while Coy's murder got the most attention from police, the truth is they had been on heightened alert from Friday night which witnessed a double murder that resulted from a robbery attempt. Jamaican brothers 36-year-old Donald Hamilton and 31 year old Tremaine Newman were killed as they were working at Belize Refrigeration Limited at mile 1 and a half on the Western Highway. 7NEWS has been on the story from Friday night.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
There are two bullet holes in this banner, one on the window sill, two on the wall below it and an additional one in the locker beside the window. These are believed to have been fired by 36-year-old Donald Hamilton from his licensed 380 pistol. Meanwhile a bullet found its mark on this office door, on this wall and a picture frame that hangs on it. The numerous bullet holes in the offices of Belize Refrigeration at mile 1 and a half on the Western Highway tell the tale of a gunfight between Hamilton and assailants who made their way into the compound at around 7 on Friday 23rd December. At the end of it Hamilton and his younger brother, 31-year-old Tremaine Newman were both killed and police believe the motive to be revenge.
ASP Chester Williams,
"We saw the two lifeless bodies of Donald Hamilton and other was Tremaine Newman. Both person had gunshot injuries to the head and what our investigations is revealing so far that the motive does not appear to be robbery. I must make that emphatically clear: the motive does not appear to be robbery but rather it seems as if someone came back in some sort of vengeance for these individuals and executed them; they were killed in execution style. Both received injuries to the head. One got shot above the right eye and the other one in the center of the temple. The bodies were found inside the building."
Donald was found near the door at the entrance of the business. He had a gunshot wound to the right eye while his brother received a gunshot to the right temple and he fell near the entrance of the offices. Police have since charged Richard
Gardiner with the murder. We understand Gardiner was an employee at the company up until the 17th of December but had been fired. Because of this he allegedly threatened Newman, threats which investigators believe he fulfilled on Friday night. For those who knew the brothers, the attack came as a complete surprise.
Friend,
"It is very hard and painful for the family at this time but thanks to God, we holding on to God and praying through this. If you knew Donald and his brother Tremaine, they were extremely loving and giving people. They would help anyone at the drop of a hat and for something like this to happen, especially to Donald is a tragedy and to be honest a stain on society because you could not want a more loving and caring person, a family man, a man who served God and lived according to the word of God."
Donald Hamilton and Tremaine Newman will be flown out to their home country of Jamaica for burial. Meanwhile one of the men who police believe is involved in the killing, 27 year old Richard Gardiner was taken to Magistrate's Court today and charged with the murder of both men as well as with conspiracy to commit murder. He was remanded until February 28th of next year.
