Three days after the first murder of the New Year, police have charged their first suspect. He is 23 year old Lincoln Sabido and the interesting thing is that he lives on the same street as the victim. Jacqueline Godwin found out that the issue of proximity is just one more area of disagreement in this already contentious story.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
As we have all seen, it is a murder around which there has already been so much contention between Norman Reyes' family and his girlfriend. But now it has gone from a dispute between loved ones to a homicide between neighbors. And that's because this man twenty three-year-old Lincoln Sabido has been arrested and charged for the killing. In fact it was in front of Sabido's residence that Reyes finally collapsed on Berry Street after he had run some fifty yards away from his one room apartment where he was shot as he slept on this sofa.
Sgt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Commander - CIB
"We launched a thorough investigation and we got statements from persons and we credit the public who came forth and
gave us statements and that is what led to the arrest."
But not so fast says the accused's mother Gwendolyn Davis. Davis, who did not wish to appear on camera, says while she was not concerned when the police had detained her son for questioning, she is stunned that he has been accused for the crime. Davis claims that as far as she knows Sabido and another son were inside her house when she first heard the gunshots.
Gwendolyn Davis, Mother of Accused
"When I hear the shot and I come out, when I hail for them he was inside the house and he came out in his boxers."
Jacqueline Godwin,
So you are saying that your son did not do this. He did not kill Norman Reyes?
Gwendolyn Davis,
"Well when I come out and hear and I hail him he was in the house, he was by his bed. So when they come tell me if I think if he couldn't do it? I say well it had to be a plane that flew him and put him quick back in his bed because when I hail him he was in his bed. So that is why I tell you he was in my house. So I noh know. Everybody the talk, you hear all kind of talking but from ever since they done no like him because anything that happens he is the bad man."
Belize City police admit that Lincoln Sabido is no stranger to them and he has been arrested before for murder and attempted murder but he has never been convicted. Last October Sabido was released from remand after being held for the murder of Sherwin Locke. But Davis says since her son was freed, she claims the police have constantly harassed him that got worse when he and other young men were detained on Tuesday for Reyes' murder.
Gwendolyn Davis,
"From him come off of the Sherwin Locke case from then Sherwin Locke father, who is a police, from then everyday when he pass here he threatens him and when they held all of them he told him personally do it or no do it he will get the wrap for it."
Jacqueline Godwin,
That is what the police told him?
Gwendolyn Davis,
"That is what the police told him."
Davis claims the police have accused the wrong man. The police say they have the evidence.
Sgt. Hilberto Romero,
"Well we believe we have sufficient evidence that is the reason why we did this arrest. We gathered enough information and we worked on the information and that is the result we got. We believe we have sufficient evidence to take before a court."
Jacqueline Godwin,
The last time we spoke you said that the motive may be, may be, it is not definite but that may be as a result of drugs. Does that still holds true for today?
Sgt. Hilberto Romero,
"Yes, that is a motive that we have and we continue to investigate the matter further but at this time we have sufficient evidence that is why we charged this person for the murder. Well we do not have the specifics of what it might have been. We are trying to ascertain that as we speak again but we do not have the specifics to what may have caused this person to be killed."
As for the charges made by Sabido's family? Deputy officer in charge of Crimes Investigation Branch, Sergeant
Hilberto Romero says he is not aware of any threats being made against the accused only their investigation has revealed.
Sgt. Hilberto Romero,
"In fact we have evidence and that is why he was charged. This person has been charged before and the case was withdrawn but for this case we have evidence and that is the reason why we made an arrest."
Davis says her son not only lived close to Herman Reyes' apartment but that they were neighborhood friends. Davis says her son is innocent.
Gwendolyn Davis,
"That boy is a nice boy, that boy is a nice boy, he no fast with nobody, he is a nice guy and I know he and Lincoln noh got nothing, nothing."
Norman Reyes' murder was the first in 2008. It took law enforcement officers only three days to make an arrest. Sgt. Romero credits the quick response not only to a good community working relationship but an improved anti crime prevention measure.
Sgt. Hilberto Romero,
"Well our police efforts have stepped up, we have extra patrols within the city. As we all know we have operational teams out there full time and they continue to work together and that is what's making these cases easier to solve."
This morning, twenty-three year old Lincoln Sabido was taken over to Magistrate's Court where he was formally arraigned on the charge of murder. He has been remanded to Hattieville Prison. Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
This morning, Sabido was taken over to Magistrate's Court where he was ordered to be remanded to the Hattieville Prison for one week until January 24.
