Tonight, a 21 year old woman is in police custody - awaiting the decision of the magistrate on her bail application for the manslaughter of her aunt's common law husband.
Tonight this story is making news because two days after Wilson Hernandez was fatally shot and killed in front of his family, the surveillance footage has been making its rounds on social media. It captures the altercation between Wilson Hernandez, his common law wife and her niece, Christy Guzman. - who is the only one that has been charged. Jomarie Lanza took a deeper look today after more of the victims family members began speaking out, demanding charges for the aunt as well. Here is that story.
Police have arrested and charged 21 year old Christy Guzman with Manslaughter, no charges have been levied against her aunt who can also be seen handling her own licensed firearm in the 11second surveillance footage taken from the moments before Wilson Hernandez was fatally shot. The video cuts off reportedly shortly before he was shot, yet the gun can be seen being handed over to his common law wife Dalia Vellos.
The family says that they are not satisfied with the charges - which they made public in this Facebook post - and the mother of the deceased is of the view that no matter what direction the investigation takes, nothing can bring back her son.
Blanca Hernandez, Mother of Deceased
"I don't know if we should just leave it like this because we still have to bury the body and just leave it up to God to take care of them. I'm not asking for justice because I'm not a resentful woman, all I am asking is that God will take care of things and make the both of them pay. Because I have my lawyer up there, I go to church and my lawyer is up there helping me deal with the loss of my son. I just can't take it anymore, No investigation can give me back my son."
According to the police, both women are claiming self defence, but still only one of them has been charged
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Investigation revealed that Wilson Hernandez has a domestic dispute with his common law wife and he threatened her. She has a license firearm, thereafter she passed the firearm to her niece who fired a single shot towards Wilson Hernandez, causing his fatal injury. An investigation is being carried out and this matter will be passed on to the DPP for directives. The firearm was seized, both females are in custody in Belmopan."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is there a case for self defense?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"The matter will be dealt with by the DPP, they are saying there was a domestic dispute and he assaulted them."
But tonight questions linger about what actually happened on that Sunday morning - and whether the person who owned the weapon, Dalia Vellos, bore any responsibility.
So, will other charges be brought - possibly against the common law wife, who is the owner of the licensed gun that killed Hernandez? Today police would only say the investigation is ongoing.
Christy Guzman was arraigned today at the Belmopan Magistrates court where she was read one count of manslaughter. No plea was taken and she remains in police custody. Her bail hearing is expected to resume tomorrow before Sr. Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. She is currently being represented by attorney Hurl Hamilton.
