7 News Belize

Taximan May Have Been Murdered Over Petty Wounding Charge
posted (May 26, 2011)
When we left you last night it was with the news that another taxi-man had been murdered - the fifth for this year. What we didn't know is that it was a very well known taxi man - known at least to those who regularly drive through the city's downtown area.

But why was he killed - since it seems he was not robbed. We found out more today:…

Monica Bodden Reporting
Charles Anthony Anderson, he's one of the most well known taxi drivers in Belize City - taking fares here at the corner of Albert and Bishop Streets between Scotia bank and Venus.

But yesterday, he was found dead here, on Guzman Crescent in the Belama area in his Saturn Car. Residents say they had heard a shot earlier, in the afternoon around two and two men were seen exiting the car. But no one seemed to think anything of it and no call was made to the police until 5:15 when a neighbor heard the car still idling.

Police arrived and searched the car for clues but only found Anderson dead behind the steering wheel with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck.

He was taken out of the car and his body carted away just after 6:00 and when these images aired on last night's news is when many of his friends found out that it was him:

Dara Robinson, Friend
"I watch the 6:30 news on Channel 7 and when they showed the vehicle the first thing that hit me was that the car looks familiar. When they showed everything I heard the news anchor said Charles and I said that I hope that it is not my brethren. I watch the repeat of the news and when one of my friends came to my house I ask him for Charles last name and he told me. So when I look at the news I said 'oh my God, it is he'."

It is a shock for those who knew hard working cab driver

Dara Robinson, Friend
"He is humble, I don't know what happen there, honest to God. Every time we hang out on Albert Street, me he and Tony Wright and we talk about the crime situation. He was like a news person, he always knew what's was happening and I ask him how does he get his stats. It is sad; this is getting out of hand."

And there is also a warning in this for others in the business:

Ernesto Robinson, downtown Taxi, VP
"Really it's dangerous; it's like risking your life because anyone is targeting the taximan. Like you said this is the 5th taxi person that got kill for this year. It is more than risky because anyone in you cab - you could never know who you are carrying. It could be tomorrow - you are dead. Right now I am giving this interview, by tomorrow anything can happen."

But so far police are not looking at this as a random crime targeting taxi men. He was not robbed and initial suspicions are that the murder may have been triggered by a petty misunderstanding Anderson had with a female. One day before he was killed he was in court for that matter, a wounding charge.

His family wished not to comment today….

On Wednesday 25th May, 2011, about 5:20pm, CIB personnel responded to a scene on Guzman Crescent, Belama Phase I, Belize City where they saw the motionless body of CHARLES ANTHONY ANDERSON, 52yrs, Taxi Driver of #197 Mahogany Street Extension seated behind the steering wheel inside a grey Saturn car with license plate BZ D-6419. ANDERSON was seen with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the neck. Initial Investigation revealed that a shot was heard and two male persons were seen exiting the car, boarded another vehicle, which sped off. CHARLES ANTHONY ANDERSON was pronounced dead at 6:50 pm at the K.H.M.H. by a medical officer.

Police have detained one female for questioning. As we noted in the story, Charles Anderson went to court on Tuesday charged with wounding a woman in an incident which occurred at Dynasty club over last weekend. He pleaded not guilty, and was released on bail of one thousand dollars.

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