7 News Belize


posted (February 4, 2014)
Tonight, 27 year-old Kevin "Midget" Manzanero is spending his second night at the Belize Central prison after he was charged and arraigned for the murder of 57 year-old Freddy Lopez Sr.

Viewers may remember on December 23, Lopez was shot and killed in front of his wife, daughter-in-law, and his 2 grand-daughters in San Ignacio. Well, after 6 weeks, police have finally charged one of the two men they believe to have been his killers.

Via phone, The Deputy Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police explained the circumstances surrounding Manzanero's arrest:

Insp. Reymundo Reyes
"Yesterday morning we got a directive from the office of the director of public persecutions that we could proceed with charges of murder, conspiracy to commit robbery against Mr. Manzanero - the charges for the death of Mr. Freddy Lopez - because he constituted to that of a robbery which ended up in a murder. That why he was given the other charge of conspiracy to commit robbery also."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can you give us an idea of the evidence as you guys have gathered against him that allowed the DPP to charge him?"

Insp. Reymundo Reyes
"We have statements that we've recorded and also an interview conducted with him and all of that information was sent to the office of the director of public persecution and after perusing she gave the go-ahead for us to lay charges on Mr. Manzanero."

Daniel Ortiz
"Has he accepted fault for the death of Mr. Freddy Lopez? Did he give any details that suggest to the investigators that look this man has revealed something that is important to the case?"

Insp. Reymundo Reyes
"At this moment I cannot discuss the case because remember that we still have one more person to look at and based on the information that we have that person have to be interview also once in custody."

Viewers may remember that Manzanero checked himself into the San Ignacio Hospital for chop wounds he allegedly received while committing a home invasion. That's how police caught him, and after he was released from treatment at the KHMH, he was immediately taken into custody. Cayo Police are still looking for Alex "Cat" Reid, the man they believe was his accomplice during that robbery turned murder.

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