But there are no question marks surrounding the death of sixteen year old Gilbert Novelo. He was killed inside a night club in Cayo and police have already arrested his alleged killer. I went west for answers.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
As family members of the accused tried to console each other outside of the San Ignacio Police Station, authorities strongly believe it was this young man, nineteen year old Freddy Fernandez, a resident of San Ignacio Town, who stabbed sixteen year old Gilbert Novelo, a resident of Santa Elena Town. The minor died shortly after arriving at the Western Regional Hospital.
While the police press release states that 16 year old Gilbert Novelo was stabbed the Faya Water Sports Bar and Grill following an altercation, the property owner vehemently denies that report. He claims that young Novelo was stabbed right where I am standing, 50 feet away from the establishment, just outside of the Coronation Park Compound.
Nazim Juan, Building Owner
“To be truthful to you, whenever someone is being stabbed or hurt or even beaten badly, the first thing the police look for is evidence. I do not think the police found any trace of blood or anything inside the premises. So we all searched together and couldn’t even find one spot or trace of blood inside this place. I continued investigating the situation outside, being
the owner of the building and getting rent from these people, and I found out from about four or five persons on the street that the night the security did not allow these kids to come in. They were not allowed to come in here so they went out and went by the park and he got stabbed behind Faya Wata. Behind Faya Wata by the park they found the knife that they stabbed the boy with, the guy with, and when the boy got stabbed he did not die immediately. So he ran around hoping at that hour of the night that he’ll get somebody to rescue him and he ran inside.”
The building owner Nazim Juan says when Gilbert Novelo ran to the club, the
security guard and police who were on duty let him inside the establishment.
Nazim Juan,
“Allow him to come inside the building because he had his hand on the left hand side. So I think that the person ran in here to see if someone could rescue him. Immediately he was taken to the police and to the hospital when he came in here.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“Mr. Wade the owner is claiming that the crime did not occur inside the establishment but rather just outside of the Coronation Park. Do you the police have any evidence to suggest otherwise?”
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade, San Ignacio Police
“Our investigation so far indicates that the incident occurred within the establishment, the Faya Wata.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“And this is based on?”
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Based on the evidence. All the statements recorded from witnesses indicate that it was inside Faya Wata Nightclub.”
Nazim Juan,
“So no one that I’ve ever questioned about this place; the owner, the security, the police, there were constables here in uniform, no one saw any fight in here. There was no argument, no fight in here. So I conclude that the fight happened where they found the knife and I think the police should have found trace of blood outside but inside here there is no trace of blood.”
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“That is something that currently being investigated. But yes, there could be injuries and there could be internal bleeding but I won’t comment much on that because those are matters that are currently being investigated. A post mortem examination has not yet been conducted and so we will wait on the post mortem results.”
Nazim Juan,
“Being the owner of this place, I have always made checks inside this place. Me myself has come in here several times and even myself as the owner, security rubs me down and check me for guns and whatever. I am definitely sure that the security and the police have been doing a really good job inside Faya Wata. At the gate there, the door there on Burns Avenue, they check every person, woman and man who come into this place. So I am very sure that the security was good, the police was doing its job but if someone, a minor is running into a place hurt or screaming for help or whatever it is then they will bring him in. There was a police in uniform and there were three security inside this place and no fight, no argument happened that night.”
Officer in Charge of San Ignacio Senior Superintendent of Police Paul Wade says not only do they have in their possession the weapon they believe was used
to stab Gilbert Novelo in his lower left abdomen but they strongly believe there was a dispute between two rival groups from the twin towns that led to the murder.
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“The police have a knife that we suspect may have been used but we are investigating that.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“Do we know the motive for this stabbing?”
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Our investigation indicates that there were a group of young men socializing within the night club, some of them are from San Ignacio and another group of them are from Santa Elena and there was an argument that started between the victim and the assailant and it was then the fatal injury was inflicted on the victim.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“Does the family know if Gilbert was a member of a rival group?”
Bridget Humes, Cousin of Murder Victim
“No.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“How would you describe Gilbert?”
Bridget Humes,
“Fun loving, he loved to run jokes. Just before he went out we were playing with him. He knew lots of jokes, lot.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“So I guess when you guys heard what happened to him you were shocked.”
Bridget Humes,
“Well yes because we know he doesn’t get into problems or that. He is a very nice person.”
San Ignacio Police are also investigating to find out why a sixteen year old was allowed in the club in the first place.
Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Yes there was one police officer and I think a special constable who was on duty at the time and we are investigating this. We know that persons who were entering were being searched but you know our young people nowadays, they are capable of concealing a small item bur yes one officer was on duty and we are inquiring on that as well.”
Nazim Juan,
“I would think that the public would agree that Faya Wata is the center of attraction in San Ignacio and we will agree that no matter where you go in this planet there will be fight and arguments and so forth. That is the reason why they have police and security and so forth. But I would say to myself that if the police would like to agree to what I am saying and they are making an investigation, Faya Wata had not been closed down because there is not no evidence. There is only the town titbits here and there because you have some elements in this town that are jealous because of the kind of business Faya Wata carries out.”
But what can not be disputed is that another young man has been killed, sixteen year old Gilbert Novelo and police say it was nineteen year old Freddy Fernandez who stabbed the minor. Today Freddy Fernandez was charged with murder and remanded to Hattieville Prison.
Police had initially detained seven persons. Only Freddy Hernandez was charged and the other six had been released.
