There were two homicides over the weekend in Belize City and they happened within a four hour span between 10 on Friday night and two on Saturday morning. We begin with the knife slaying of 28 year old Leroy Rhaburn, a man known as Red Ants who was killed early on Saturday morning.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Twenty nine year old Leroy Rhaburn Sr. also known as Red Ants had a lot of enemies because of the life he lived that ended around two on Saturday morning right here at the corner of Euphrates Avenue and Cemetery Road.
Lisa Garoy, Ex Common Law Wife
“Everyday he said he doesn’t know when he would die because a lot of people want to kill him.”
But only one person will be charged with Leroy Rhaburn Sr.’s murder who has been identified as Walter Beaton. Police say the accused and the victim were involved in an altercation when Walter Beaton aka Walter Welch stabbed
Leroy Rhaburn to the left side of the neck. Today when we spoke with the victim’s ex common law wife Lisa Garoy she says she does not know the accused but know that her two children’s father suspected that one day he would be killed.
Jacqueline Godwin,
“So this is something he used to talk to you about?”
Lisa Garoy,
“Everyday. He said a lot of people deh out there who want to kill him and he doesn’t walk the street or go anywhere. He doesn’t go to shop or nowhere.”
Lisa says from what she understands Leroy was intoxicated and that may have led to the argument. She described Leroy Rhaburn Sr. as a dedicated dad to her young daughter and son.
Jacqueline Godwin,
“When was the last time you saw him?”
Lisa Garoy,
“Earlier in the evening when he was out here with his kids.”
It was Leroy Rhaburn’s life of crime that police say led to the shooting of Lisa Garoy and her son who was only four months old at the time December of 2005. Lisa was shot in the back and left temporarily paralyzed. Doctors said the young mother would not be able to walk again but Lisa Garoy defied the odds and after several intense therapy sessions today as you can see she is walking very good on her own. Her son Leroy Rhaburn Jr. who was shot in the arm did not lose the use of hand and is also doing very well.
Brandell Michael was charged for those shootings. Today as the family and friends of Leroy Rhaburn Sr. get ready to lay him to rest it is hope that finally Lisa Garoy and her children will no longer have to live in fear. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
Today twenty eight year old taxi driver Walter Beaton, a resident of number four North Creek Road appeared before Senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers where he was arraigned on the charge of murder. Magistrate Flowers explained to the accused that because the offence is indictable she will not take a plea and Walter Beaton was remanded to the Belize City Central Prison where he will remain until September seventeenth. At the time of Leroy Rhaburn Sr’s homicide he had several cases for which trial was pending.
