A man was killed with a pick axe in Teakettle right after Christmas; and then another man was chopped to death in Valley of Peace right before the New Year and yesterday, a Valley of Peace man was stabbed to death in Belmopan. It’s a disturbing trend in a usually quiet area – and even more so considering the fact that yesterday’s murder happened in broad daylight in the Capital. Jacqueline Godwin went west to find out more.
Angela Ishim, Daughter
“I don’t know we will go back to school because my father, he supported us a lot and now that he is gone, we don’t know how we will survive this.”
18 year old Angela Ishim was looking forward to seeing her dad 44 year old Marcus Ishim. He left home on Saturday for work and should have returned 2 days later but he never did. That’s because Belmopan police say this man 54 year old Wayne Gabb stabbed the husband and father to death.
Jacqueline Godwin,
When police arrived at the Western Regional Hospital the victim, he was being treated for his injury?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“Yes he was being treated for his injury at the time and he later succumbed to that injury around 5:20 yesterday evening.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did police have an opportunity to speak to him before he died?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“Yes the police did have an opportunity to speak to him.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What did he say?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“At this point I cannot reveal that.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But whatever he told the cops, the information he provided, is it sufficient enough for the police to make an arrest?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“Based on our investigation we have sufficient evidence to make an arrest.”
The case lead investigator Cpl. Alma Mortis told 7NEWS that Wayne Gabb and
Marcus Ishim were among a group of five men socializing in the area of Guang Dong Restaurant when it is reported an argument started between Gabb and Ishim.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do we know what that argument was about?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“At this point we have not established what that argument was about but yes we know that there was an argument.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do we know if at that time the men were drinking?
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“Yes they were all drinking.”
Reports are the men were arguing because Ishim had repeatedly asked Gabb to buy him a drink, a report the family disputes.
Pedro Shol, Nephew
“I don’t think he asked for a drink. I don’t think he asked for a drink because my uncle doesn’t do that. So he had quit drinking for like six months now so I can’t believe he begged for a drink and he just came from working. I think that is wrong.”
Katarina Ishim, Wife
“No I don’t know. Yes I only heard someone went and dropped me a message yesterday evening four o’clock that my husband was stabbed to death.”
Marcus Ishim who was a prison officer at the Hattieville Prison was on his way home to Valley of Peace to spend some time with his wife and eight daughters.
Katarina Ishim,
“We miss him and we’ve lost him and we don’t know how we are going to survive with my children.”
Pedro Shol,
“It is really a shock. His heart was his work and so he would go from home to work and probably he made a mistake at that moment.”
Late this evening Wayne Gabb was charged for the murder.
Angela Ishim,
“Make them put him in prison so that he can suffer like how we will suffer too; make him feel the same thing.”
Pedro Shol,
“We can’t do nothing again but like I said the guy is at the back so I hope the law will do the best and not let him out again.”
Katarina Ishim,
“I would like him to go to jail. I want him to suffer as we are going to suffer, me and my children. We don’t know how we are going to take our lives with my children because I have eight daughters, 5 are going in primary school, one is in third form at the Comprehensive School and one, she was supposed to start going to university on the 19th of January. This is very very sorry for my children.”
The homicide was the first in the Belmopan area in the New Year. Cpl. Mortis says all attempts are being made to curb crime.
W/Cpl. Alma Mortis,
“As we speak now that is in place, we are establishing what we will do in these circumstances. We have different plans that we are working on at this point in time.”
Wayne Gabb will be formally arraigned in Belmopan Magistrate’s court tomorrow.
