52 year-old Jesus Mossiah, a well-known candy vendor from Calcutta Village in Corozal, was killed on Saturday night. That's after 28 year-old Sadam Jose Vasquez, a resident of Corozal Town, stoned him in the head with a chunk of concrete. Tonight, Vasquez is on remand at the Belize Central prison on a manslaughter charge.
The incident happened sometime around 7:00 that evening. The two men were at a business place on 7th Avenue in that northern town when they had some sort of disagreement. That dispute escalated when Vasquez allegedly picked up a piece of concrete, and he threw it at Mossiah. That piece of cement block struck Mossiah in the head, causing him to collapse on the street. Police were called in, and they rushed Mossiah to the Corozal Community Hospital. Unfortunately, the doctors on duty could not save Mossiah's life, and he passed away while undergoing treatment.
A press conference in Belmopan, police shared additional details about the case, and told us that they've already made an arrest in this case:
ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"Shortly after 7 p.m. also on Saturday, Corozal police were called to an area on 7th Avenue, where they observed the motionless body of a dark-complexioned male person, later identified as Jesus Mossiah, 52 years, of a Calcutta Village address in the Corozal District. He was transported to the Corozal Community Hospital, where he died whilst undergoing treatment. What the police know so far is that Mossiah was at a business establishment on 7th Avenue, where he allegedly got into an altercation with another male person. They left the area, and later returned to the area,As a result, upon his return, the male person then picked up a small piece of concrete, which was on the street side, and stoned it towards Mossiah, which caught him on the right side of his head, which resulted in his injury. As a result, police carried out an investigation, where 4 statements have since been recorded. Those statements, along with the evidence, was forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for her advice. And since yesterday, the other male person, known as Sadam Vasquez, 28 year-old of a Corozal Town address, has since been arrested and charged for the crime of manslaughter."
Reporter
"Do you all know the nature of the dispute between these 2 men?"
ACP Joseph Myvette
"At this point in time, we're still trying to ascertain that."
Sadam Vasquez, a shop attendant living in Corozal Town, was arraigned today before the Corozal Magistrate, Lionel Olivera, on the offense of manslaughter.
His attorney, Ronell Gonzalez, submitted that manslaughter is an offense for which bail can be granted. He also submitted that Vasquez has a clean criminal record, and that he is a productive citizen who maintains a job and raises family, which includes a pregnant common-law wife, and a 3 year-old child. He also added that this death came about from a spontaneous fight, and that the accused acted in self defense.
The police prosecutor objected to bail, and submitted that the law gives discretion to the magistrate.
In the end, the Magistrate denied bail on the grounds that violence is prevalent in the Corozal District, and that there is strong public outcry against the court granting bail for offenses like these.
Vasquez was remanded into custody until June 24th, when he will be brought back to court.
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