There was another murder over the weekend - this one happened in a remote village in the Cayo District last night at 8:30. It appears to have been the product of a drunken altercation. Courtney Weatherburne went to Yalbac Village today and here's her story:...
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Melecio Gonzalez lived in Yalbac Village with his wife and 3 kids. He was the caretaker of this cabbage farm right at the foot of his humble hilltop home.
He would normally be here working on the farm with his co-worker but instead he was found dead last night, his body thrown among the same crops he once kept.
Supt. Richard Rosado, OC, San Ignacio
"Police visited the scene where a the lifeless body of a male Hispanic person was seen in a lateral position on the roadside next to a farm land with an apparent injury to the right side of his head."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"And at this point police believe that, he was hit in the head with a rock?"
Richard Rosado, OC, San Ignacio
"Yes, based on the initial investigation we believe he was hit in the head by one person by the name of Williams with a rock."
According to residents, Williams and Gonzalez are good friends. The report is that they were both drinking together on the farm land yesterday evening and were even seen embracing each other in a drunken stupor.
Victor Tut, Friend
"The only thing that I saw is that they were together there but then the rain came and I moved away, because I couldn't finish my fertilizer because it was raining, that is the only part I see."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So you saw them hanging out together here, Gonzalez and...?"
Victor Tut, Friend
"Right in front of this cabbage place where I was putting fertilizer."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So he was with 2 other friends?"
Victor Tut, Friend
"No only two of them, the two of them were hugging each other, they were not fighting but maybe it is afterwards when I left they started to fight, I don't know."
Surely something went terribly wrong for Williams to pick up a rock and bash Gonzalez in the head. Tut says, it's the liquor that came between these two longtime friends and caused Gonzalez death.
Victor Tut, Friend
"All the time he like drink, the two of them."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Both of them were very close friend's right?"
Victor Tut, Friend
"Very close friends, no enemy."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So in this case what do you think happened, was it just the liquor or...?"
Victor Tut, Friend
"Yes, it has to be the liquor, can't be other things."
Supt. Richard Rosado, OC, San Ignacio
"Police are still trying to ascertain the motive but we do know alcohol may have been a contributing factor which led to the misunderstand and the death of Melecio Gonzalez."
The deceased leaves behind three children.
Police are looking for Gonzalez's friend who they believe is on his way to Orange Walk. Gonzalez is a naturalized Belizean.
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