He has been in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital since January twentieth recovering
from a gun shot wound but almost three months later twenty three year old Eric
Swan is out of KHMH and behind bars on remand for the murder of San Pedro resident
John Paul Saldivar whose lifeless body was found on January thirty first, one
day after police believe he was killed.
The body which had multiple gunshot wounds was partially nude, floating face
up –some sixteen miles north of San Pedro Ambergris Caye. It is not confirmed
who shot Eric Swan who was on crutches when he limped on into the Magistrate’s
Court but at the time of the shooting the police on the island were investigating
a report of a shooting and robbery and came upon Swan in a vessel that matched
the description of the one involved.
Reports are that although the police ordered the men onboard to stop the boat
Eric Swan reportedly pointed gun at them and fired a shot. The cops responded
and it was during this exchange of gun fire it is believed Eric Swan was shot.
Eric Swan is the brother of James Swan whose bullet riddled body along with
Edward Gutierrez were found buried in a shallow grave on February second. Authorities
believe Eric Swan shot John Paul Saldivar in an act of revenge because it is
believed Saldivar was involved in the double homicide of James Swan and Edward
Gutierrez. Police strongly suspect that all three murders are connected to the
discovery of some twenty five kilos of cocaine believed to have been as a result
of a wet drop in the area
Eric Swan, a fisherman of the San Mateo area of San Pedro Town now joins the
other accused Shelton “Pinky” Tillett, Micah Thomspon and Charles
Goodeye were in the area where the bodies were found. At the time Tillett, Thomspon
and Goodeye who are Belize City residents were in possession of some thirty
thousand dollars. They told police he money was to be used to purchase a bike
from the island. The four are accused of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
During Eric Swan’s court appearance before Chief Magistrate Margaret
Gabb McKenzie, she explained to him that since the matters were indictable offenses
and very serious ones no plea would be taken but that on a given date in the
future a preliminary inquiry will be held and if there is sufficient evidence
then that matter will be committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Eric Swan
who was unrepresented in court has been remanded to Hattieville Prison until
May thirteenth. The date set for his next court appearance.
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