Tonight, a police constable is in jail on remand for murder and attempted murder. It comes months after a teenaged boy was fatally stabbed on Caye Caulker after a nightclub altercation.
Jomarie Lanza tells us about today's arrest:
Almost 7 months after we all saw this video of a stabbing incident which led to 19 year old Kevin Depaz's death on Caye Caulker, a police constable has been charged for his murder.
The DPP concluded that there is enough evidence to charge off duty officer Lionel Urbina for murder and attempted murder on his friends while another police officer is also expected to be charged for causing harm in that incident.
For the family and friends of the 19 year old US citizen who was visiting his father in Belize it is a vindication for an attack which they said from the start was murderous.
Karina Depaz, Mother of Deceased
"My son was a good kid. He didn't harm anybody. My son didn't even have a record. My son was an amazing kid, he was friendly with anybody. And a man took his life. My son didn't deserve to die like that."
And for the fellow victim 18 year old Julian Canul who carries the evidence of the attempted murder on his neck it will also be a relief to know that the perpetrator has been charged
Julian Canul, Stabbing Victim
"The off-duty officer ran behind Kevin Depaz, the one in black shirt and stab Kevin Depaz in the chest, in his stomach. I was fighting the one in pink who got stab by his own off-duty officer who was with him. After the officer stab Kevin Depaz, I ran behind him and try to defend myself. He sliced him on my neck and hand."
Lionel Urbina has been remanded to prison for Murder and attempted murder while the other police officer is expected to be charged for assault later this week.
Urbina - who is a Cayo resident - was arraigned today on charges of murder, attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm. That is one count of murder for Kevin Depaz, 19, and two counts of attempted murder for allegedly causing injuries to 25-year-old, Newsean Allen and 18-year old Julian Canul.
Urbina was remanded until March 31, 2026 when he will be provided with disclosure.
Latest reports from court say that the other police officer who was supposed to be charged was released on orders from the DPP's office.
