7 News Belize

Woman Chops Man To Death In Dispute Over Mentally Ill Daughter
posted (January 25, 2016)
A man from Biscayne Village in Rural Belize district was fatally chopped this weekend, but as of right now, police are not treating it as murder.

54 year-old Arthur Wade, who is originally from Crooked Tree Village, reportedly attacked his mother-in-law, who told police that she injured him with the machete in self-defence. But, a man is dead, and his tragic end was the culmination of a strained relationship between him and his in-laws. There is an element of mental illness while play a prominent role in the conflict, which our news team encountered while following the story today. Daniel Ortiz reports;

Daniel Ortiz reporting
This morning, Biscayne Resident Moszetta Reyes walked up the steps of her home remembering vividly the dangerous encounter with her, son-in-law, on last week Friday night.

54 year-old Arthur Wade had allegedly attacked her with piece of wood, and Reyes says that she panicked and pulled a machete to defend herself. She chopped him once to the back of the neck, and once to the arm.

That injury to neck, though allegedly inflicted to protect her life, killed Wade. Like any normal person, Reyes is conflicted by his death.

Reporter
"What has been going through your mind since Friday?"

Moszetta Reyes - Claims Self-Defence
"I was worrying about whether or not he was alive or dead meanwhile I was in Ladyville with the police and like after they told me he is dead, there were changes where I was concern. I can't even explain the changes to you all."

So, how did a family disagreement end up in Wade's death? Well, according to Moszetta Reyes, Wade wanted to remove Alva Reyes - her daughter, who is his girlfriend.

The trouble is that she is mentally ill, and she was having an episode where that illness had taken full effect.

He wanted to release her, and her mother, Moszetta did not think that would be the best idea.

Moszetta Reyes - Claims Self-Defence
"He said that he didn't want to open the door, that he will break it down. I said well go ahead then. And then he came down and went into the kitchen to get the axe. But I believe he couldn't find the axe, so he use a big stick that we had the door open with and then he started to break the door. I say well I will call the police on you. That is what he grievance me for, because he didn't want the police come for him. Meanwhile I was talking to the police on the phone, he came with the stick and say "you are calling the police" and I turned. That same way I turned, he gave me a hurt here. I ran up the stairs with that and he came behind me with the stick and then he started to whop. He whopped down the thing up there and he was whopping the door. My hand was hurting and the phone fell out of my hand. But before it fell out my hand, I was telling them (the police) that he was whopping me with the stick now and after that no communications. So, I say well I have to help myself because then he was still after me. And I stood by the door and I had a machete by the door and I just start to "Juk" with the machete, because then this boy didn't want to leave me alone. And I "juk" until I see him falling backwards. I don't know what all I was doing with the machete, but I was getting him off of me. So, he fell down with the verandah down there."

He was bleeding profusely after he fell down the stairs, and by that time, he had reportedly calmed down. A short while later, police arrived and rushed him to the KHMH

Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital by BERT Ambulance in a critical condition. However, at 6pm last night Sunday 24th, he succumb to his injuries. The weapon which is a black handle machete and a stick measuring about 3 feet was recovered at the scene."

Police have released her, and though they are seeking the advice of the DPP for final confirmation, they don't intend to charge her at this time for Wade's death

Reporter
"Are police going to proceed with charges against her as far as the investigation is showing?"

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster, O. C. Eastern Rural
"At this time. Mrs. Reyes has since been released."

Reporter
"The crime is self-defense correct?"

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster, O. C. Eastern Rural
"Well the file is being submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution for further directives."

The Reyes family is unsettled by the tragic incident, and this has been a continuous trial, closely linked to Moszetta's daughter, Alva. She's a grown woman, and a mother of four, but later in life, her illness started to manifest itself, which meant that they had to take steps to protect her and those around her.

At first glance, a person being locked away like this may seem very unsettling, but the family asserts that Alva's illness causes her to put her life, and the life others around in danger.

To add to that, her boyfriend, recently deceased Arthur Wade, was a known alcoholic, and that made the situation volatile.

Moszetta Reyes - Claims Self-Defence
"He never seemed to me that he had anything to drink, but I know he was always drinking."

Daniel Ortiz
"Ma'am are you worried that police might change their minds and charge you for his death?"

Moszetta Reyes - Claims Self-Defence
"I am just waiting to know."

We've spoken to the DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, and she told us that because Reyes has claimed self-defense, she is reviewing the police file on the case.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize