And while the arraignment has taken place, many questions remain about how investigators were able to home in on the two suspects. At today's press briefing, police explained in detail the multi layered investigation to find Dr Naun's killers. Jaleeza Roberts takes a deeper look:
Police believe the murder of Dr. Naun Ulices Bonilla was not a random act of violence, but rather the result of a coordinated plan involving more than one individual, according to details emerging from the police investigation. One week after the respected physician was gunned down in broad daylight while driving through Belmopan, police put together an unusual murder investigation, utilizing digital forensics and money trail to link the two suspects - who come form different worlds:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What I will say is that this investigation was a very intense one as with all of our investigation."
"However, on this occasion we were able to leverage a lot of the tools that have been implemented with the transitioning of the department into a more technologically sound department. We relied heavily on the public safety monitoring unit and the camera system that they have there. We also relied heavily on the digital forensics unit of the Belize Police Department cyber crime unit. Similarly, great assistance came from the Financial Intelligence Unit and certainly the diligence of the police officers who spent extraordinary amount of time, the investigators, going through a number of footage which helped to paint a picture and take us to where we are now."
But a concern for many including his family is whether or not the charge of murder will stick on to Foreman being that she was not at at the scene. She allegedly hired hitman Bethran to do the deed but never pulled the trigger herself. Despite this, police were able to explain how for the first time in history a charge like this has been laid:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What I will say without getting into too much specifics, because as you are aware it's a matter that is before the court, is that the charge follows the principle of joint enterprise, which pretty much states that when two persons plan or commit an offense together, they can be liable for the independent conduct of each other. So even where a person may not have pulled the trigger that caused the demise of the other person, that person can still be liable for murder because there is some indication of their involvement in the planning of the act, and that is the extent to which I will discuss."
"I know I cannot recall any within my time frame whereby we have had persons who were not physically on the scene or playing an accessory role in an incident being arrested for murder. I can't recall in my time and when I spoke to ACP Romero he said he cannot recall any in his time as well so it is the first of its kind but and it is for that reason we are moving very intently and scrupulously because we do not want to prejudice this case. It's a very heart-wrenching and tragic loss. Every loss is significant and important however Dr. Bonilla by all indication was a person who devoted his very short life to saving lives of others and impacting the community with which he served."
So for now the families and friends are having some form of relief in what could have been one of the hardest weeks of their life. For now, this case goes to September 1. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
