Local News

Two persons, 22 year old John Chessman and 18 year old Dilon Clarke, were charged with the murder of 32 year old Pei Xan Tan, also known as “Kenny”, when they appeared in court today. They were also charged with robbery. No plea was taken because the offences will be tried on indictment. Neither could the court offer them bail. They were remanded into custody until September 20. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 9. Security footage showed that two persons entered E Buy Supermarket, located on Crab Catcher Street in Ladyville and pretended that they were customers. One of them who was armed put a pistol the head of Tan and took him behind the counter while the other one sole an undetermined amount of money from the cash register. The gunman then shot Tan in the left side of his head. Tan died while being transported to the hospital. The police reported that retrieved one expended 9 millimetre shell form the scene.

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Three men appeared this morning before Magistrate Merlene Moody in Orange Walk where they were charged in connection with the murder of 35 year old Ricardo Blanco of Trial Farm Village.  20 year old mechanic Feliciano Briceno and 21 year old construction worker Manuel Toloza, both of Trial Farm Village were charged with murder. 25 year old salesman of Trial Farm village Julio Castillo was charged with abetment to commit murder.  It is believed Castillo facilitated the use of a white Toyota car to transport Blanco.  The three men were remanded to the Belize Central Prison and are to reappear in court on September 12.   Blanco went missing on Thursday August 2 after a night of drinking and socializing with other men from the village.  When he failed to come home that weekend, his family launched a search which led them to a feeder road off the Northern Highway where Blanco’s body was found under some dry grass, nude except for a green piece of cloth tied around his neck.  He also had injuries to the chest and face.

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