There were two murders reported yesterday - one in Belize City and one in Roaring Creek - and both victims were 67 years old.
The one in Belize City happened just after 10:00 last night. The victim? a former US army veteran, who was stabbed to death by someone he was socializing with. Jomarie Lanza has this story.
He was lured to his death with a bottle of "Badman" says his sister, after she left her older brother socializing at the corner of the street on Baymen Avenue, only to be alerted moments later that he had been stabbed to death.
Voice of: Kareema Kelly, Sister of Deceased
"My daughter frantically came into the bathroom running and saying they just kill uncle junior and I said no man don't tell me that my brother was sitting on that stump in front of the Chiney enjoying himself and she said mommy it's true they killed uncle Junior. Well I hurriedly put on my clothes and when I came I found my brother dead at the corner of Nurseay street and St Joseph Street dead. With slashes in his throat and in his chest."
The 67 year old US army veteran, Griffith Cadle, affectionately known as "Junior" was no stranger to residents in the area, which is why it came as a shock that someone had taken his life.
Voice of: Kareema Kelly, Sister of Deceased
"I saw my brother for the last time, I would say 5 minutes past 9 but prior to that I had passed him at the corner of Baymen Avenue and St Joseph Street he was socializing sitting there enjoying a bad man. So I told him Junior what are you doing with a bad man you're normally not a drinker like that you drink a coke and enjoy your benson. So I told him by the time I passed back I want you to go home back he asked me to bring him a fry chicken and I said okay sure your sister is going to bring one back for you but just make sure by the time I pass back you're horne. So when I passed back about 5 minutes past 9 I noticed he was no longer sitting at the corner of Baymen Avenue and St Joseph street he was in front of A & G shop he was socializing with the gentleman I had left him with earlier and then there was a third man who had joined them so I told him Junior it's time for us to go over and he mentioned sister just let me finish this last drink. So he finished the last drink and I told him don't let me have to call you for your food, your food will be waiting there for you so I said okay fine but the other gentleman mentioned, where is he going and stared me maliciously in my face that is the same guy who killed my brother."
Cadle knew his killer. And according to Kelly her brother was no trouble maker. Which is why she believes he was taken advantage of.
Voice of: Kareema Kelly, Sister of Deceased
"My brother never deserved a death like that and I want justice for my brothers death his death will not go like that I will not leave it like that."
When we spoke with the area representative this afternoon he revealed to us that the accused had just moved to the neighborhood.
Kareem Musa, Area Representative Caribbean Shores
"In relation to the murder of who we affectionately refer to as Junior everybody in the neighborhood knows Junior well, Mr Cadle, a retired service man. And also somebody who was being treated so, but if you know Junior you would know that he is completely harmless he is not a threat to anybody whatsoever and so that came as very shocking news to the entire community to the neighborhood watch group that is extremely vigilant in that area. The Knights correct, but police again were very swift to apprehend the suspect. It is a gentleman I will not release his name until he is charged but it is a gentleman who I am told likewise suffers with a mental condition. Apparently he served ten years in jail already but he was released a month ago. The file is being compiled at this moment and will be forwarded over to the DPP for that individual to be charged but we are in men's mental health month Jules and so this definitely is one of those cases that makes you say we need to do more for our mental patients that are on the streets that are homeless that don't have any family because if I am not mistaken Junior has no family except for one brother who lives out on an island and hardly ever comes back to Belize city or the the mainland."
It surely is an eye opener for the kings park residents, especially when it comes to monitoring the mentally unstable. Musa says that it's something they mustn't take lightly especially during men's mental health month
Kareem Musa, Area Representative Caribbean Shores
"And so I think while it is that the Ministry Of Human Development and the Ministry Of Health is doing an excellent job of tracking out mental patients I think it's we all need to do more for the homeless for those who are mentally ill and to try to look out for them as best as we can. I know that this happened very late in the night but again we all have our own lives to go home to and we can't just be monitoring those who are out on the street but as best as we can we have to try to look out for them."
