7 News Belize

Three Murder Weekend Began In Residential Neighborhood
posted (January 29, 2018)
It was a three murder weekend - with two killings in the Belize District and one in Dangriga. Those become the 13th., 14th., and 15th. murders for January.

We begin in the Vista Del Mar residential community - just outside Ladyville where what might be called a love triangle - exploded into murder.

When it was over, Gavin Palmerston was dead - and his female friend's ex-common law husband was a murder suspect. They are, or were, both Ladyville residents. We found out more from police.

Sahar Vasquez reporting
On Friday night 41-year-old Gavin Palmerston went to visit his friend Stephanie Coye at an apartment building on Barrier Reef Crescent Drive in Vista Del Mar. But that regular visit turned into a nightmare.

Palmerston and Coye were talking and enjoying the view of the river on the verandah until her ex common-law, Robert Brown reached the complex just after 9:00.

That is when things took a sudden turn. An enraged Brown allegedly punched Coye, and he and Palmerston got into a fight - which ended in a stabbing.

ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB
"What the investigation has shown so far is that Mr. Palmerston had gone to visit a friend there, Stephanie Coye, who was staying at another friend's house when the ex-common law for Stephanie arrived and an argument ensued between Mr. Palmerston and Mr. Brown who is the common-law husband, ex-common law husband. And as a result, a fight ensued and he resulted receiving four stab wounds to the back."

Brown darted from the scene immediately after the killing, but turned himself into police later.

ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB
"Police processed the scene and Mr. Robert Brown - later on, that night - handed over himself to police where police interviewed him and as a result of that police arrested and charged Mr. Robert Brown on Sunday morning for the crime of murder."

Now you might think the only reason Brown would commit such an irrational act was because he was provoked by another party. According to police, this does not seem to be the case.

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I know that his people are claiming self-defence. Was this something that was looked at - we know that provocation is always an issue. His ex-wife was with a new suitor, we are told. And his child was at the home as well, as I understand it."

Alejandro Cowo
"What the investigation has shown so far is that the gentleman was just having a regular conversation with the female. There's nothing that has proved that there was any provocation to have caused him behaving in such a way, and therefore doing the fatal stabs to Mr. Palmerston."

The scene played out inside the home in front of children - including those the couple shared - leaving an indelible imprint of violence in the home, and this quiet residential neighborhood.

Thirty-seven year old Robert Brown, a heavy duty equipment operator from Mitchell Estate, Ladyville, was charged with Gavin Palmerston's murder when he appeared today before Magistrate Michelle Trapp.

He was remanded until March 28.

Notably, police say there were no previous reports of violence or threats. Brown's family suggests that he had endured sustained provocation - and say that he acted in self-defence.

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