On Saturday
morning, residents of San Pedro awoke to the news of a shocking cold-hearted
murder that left many in disbelief. Large crowds gathered on the corner of
Pescador Drive and Ambergris Street where the gruesome event took place. The
question of why someone would want to target one of San Pedro's most friendly
and humble personalities was repeated throughout the crowd. The answer soon came
to light - burglars who wanted the contents of a safe. Anguished cries were
heard as people on the scene discovered that well-known Sanpedrano fisherman
Justo Jairo "Galento" Perez's life had ended in a brutal murder. The words, "We
want justice" echoed through the streets. As the day progressed, the motive
began to unfold as news of scandalous and incriminating evidence, as well as the
assailants' names, were revealed. The San Pedro
police report stated: At about 5:00 a.m. on November 2nd, 2002, information was received that
there was a lifeless body at a residence on the corner of Pescador Drive and
Ambergris Street, San Pedro Town. Police visited the said place and discovered
the body of a male Hispanic person who was identified as Justo Jairo Perez, 63,
fisherman of San Pedro Town. The body of said person had seven large wounds to
the center, right and left side of the head, and two wounds to the forehead.
Both hands and feet were tied together. The police
investigation revealed that there was an iron safe in the room of Jairo Perez
and that someone had attempted to break into it and that led to his death. Crime
scene and forensics personnel were called out to process the
scene. According to a spokesperson from the San Pedro
Police Department, one of the assailants was captured at the scene by KBH
Security Supervisor Dimas Guerrero who managed to deliver the accused to the
police station. At the station, the defendant revealed the names of the other
accomplices. A total of five persons were detained at the San Pedro Police
Station and subsequently transferred to the Queen Street Police Station in
Belize City for further interrogation. Police investigation
then led to the arrest of Francis Eiley, 27, tour guide of Trigger Street, San
Pedro Town; Lenton Polonio, 24, wood carver of San Pedro Town; Ernest Savery,
27, laborer of Belize City; and Frank Vasquez, 18, laborer of 165 Neal Pen Road,
Belize City. All were charged with the crime of murder. Kevin Gonzalez, 25 of
Sand Piper Street and Ernest Savery, were charged with conspiracy to commit
murder and conspiracy to commit burglary. According to
further reports, on Monday, November 4 th the detainees appeared before
Magistrate Margaret McKenzie and were remanded to Hattieville Prison until
November 12th. Senior Counsel
B.Q. Pitts is representing Francis Eiley, Ernest Savery and Kevin Gonzalez. Mr.
Pitts requested bail for Kevin Gonzalez on the conspiracy charge, but Magistrate
McKenzie denied the bail. Frank Vasquez and Lenton Polonio appeared in court
undefended.
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