7 News Belize

Finally! Cervantez’s Alleged Murder Conspirators Arraigned
posted (July 9, 2014)

And from that unidentified body in Belize City, we go to Orange Walk - where two bodies found on the Honey Camp Lagoon Road have been identified. One of them is of course Ramon Cervantez Sr who was found on Monday, and the other - we now know is Sonia Maribel Abac - a 46 year old who went missing in Orange Walk in April.  Well, her remains were dug up yesterday at a site not far from where Cervantez's body was found.  

We'll tell you all about that harrowing discover shortly, but first we'll show you the faces of those accused of conspiring to kill Ramon Cervantez Sr.  They were arraigned this evening after 5:00 pm. 

After 3 days of waiting, viewing public Orange Walk Town finally got a chance to see the 3 of the men who have been the main suspects in the murder of 71 year-old Ramon Cervantes Sr. At about an hour before news time, they were charged, arraigned in Magistrate's Court, and right now, they're on the way to the Belize Central Prison.

Seen here being escorted out of court in handcuffs behind the back are 22 year-old Guatemalan Noe Daniel Avila – in red shirt; 19 year-old Belizean Angel Antonio Cardenas – in grey shirt, and 28 year-old Belizean Mateo Pott Jr. – in white shirt. They were all arraigned jointly on the charges of murder, keeping an unlicensed firearm, and keeping unlicensed ammunition. The accusation against the men are they beat Ramon Cervantes Jr. to death and dumped his body in a shallow grave in a farm about 3 and a miles on the Honey Camp Road in the Indian Hill area. Police say that the men are also connected to a 12-guage shotgun with an unknown serial number, and 5 twelve-gauge cartridges.

Because the charges are indictable, no plea was taken from them, and Magistrate Merlene Moody remanded them to the Belize Central Prison until August 13.

It's a major break in the case which happened just before news time, and today the Director of Public Prosecutions explained to us why the directive came at such a late stage. She told is via text, quote "We got statements Monday afternoon and gave careful consideration to what was contained in them and requested further information which was provided over the last two days and we were able to make a decision today." End Quote.

It's important to note that police are now actively searching for 37 year-old deportee Manuel Castillo, aka "Pelon". He is believed to be the mastermind behind the entire crime, and the belief is that he has absconded. Because of the late arraignment, our news team is still on the road returning from Orange Walk, and in tomorrow's newscast, we show you our extended interview with the Head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett, where he explained why Castillo is wanted by police.

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