7 News Belize

Trouble In Paradise: Homicide at Matachica
posted (August 31, 2010)
Matachica Beach Resort at the north end of Ambergris Caye is one of Belize's most exclusive and highly rated hotels. But last night, the property's 57 year old grounds keeper was killed after he was beaten up by a 20 year old.

It's a tragedy at a place most people call paradise - and Monica Bodden went to San Pedro to find out what caused it.

Monica Bodden, Reporting
The lifeless body of 57 year old Gregorio Eustaquio Cornejo was carted away from the morgue this afternoon - in the pan of his family's pick up truck.

His 18 year old son and his nephew sat alongside his coffin as he was taken away to Libertad Village to be buried. Cornejo was pushed off this pier to his death sometime before 6:30 yesterday evening.

He was attending a staff gathering at Mata Chica resort in San Pedro where he worked for over 5 years. Details are a little sketchy but according to police - Cornejo was involved in an altercation:

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"The investigation revealed that about 6:30pm on that said date they were having a staff party at a resort when there was a altercation between two male person, a young man who is 20 years old who approach him and punch him in his face and he fell in the water. He was retrieve from the water shortly afterwards and it was notice that he vomiting substance that appears to be water and he was transported for further medical attention to town and upon his arrival here he was pronounce dead."

Today his wife told us she is still trying to put the pieces together - as to what happened last night.

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"According to what I understand there was a staff party and everybody was drinking. There were about to leave when a fight broke out at the end of the pier. And actually in this fight my husband was not involve but at the end he tried to defend one of the friends and because of defending this friend, the one that was fighting hit him in the stomach and when he hit him into the stomach he fell into the water. Since he cannot swim, he actually drowns."

Monica Bodden
"You understand what was the cause of the fight?"

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"No, I don't know what the cause is. They are all staff, all co-workers."

According to Cornejo - her husband's post-mortem stated he died of drowning.

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"Due to the stomach hit that he got. It was a staff party and you expect that everybody was drinking a little. It's not that they were drunk that they forgot one another. But yes they were drinking."

Monica Bodden
"What have you heard from the police?"

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"Well what the police told me this morning is that one will get charge for murder."

So far one person has been detained by police while 6 others are currently in questioning.

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"Information received is that the male person who punch the deceased was a visitor."

Monica Bodden
"At this time is there anyone detained by police?"

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"Yes we have someone detained."

Jorge Aldana, Reporter
"Will you able to share who that person is?"

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"Not at this time because we are still conducting our investigations."

Monica Bodden
"What charges are you looking at?"

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"We need to consult with the DPP and she will give us further instructions."

Jorge Aldana, Reporter
"You guys treating this as a murder?"

Corporal Dwayne McCulloch - CIB San Pedro
"We are still investigating the matter."

The family says they want justice for their love one.

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"They have taken from me my best friend and all that I have in all my existence. I don't care what happen whether they get justice or not but I know there is a divine one up in heaven and one day we all have will have one."

Elmer Cornejo, Nephew
"He had no problems, he was just having some fun time with his friends and for somebody just to punch him in his stomach and throw him in the water I think it's so unfair. all that we ask is for justice to be done because as my aunt said many at times things happen and nothing is being done, the police only say that we will be investigation and nothing is done at the end of the day. Now I feel what others have felt before and now I want to say that its time for the Government of Belize to enforce their laws and if anything is not being done then it's just saying that the Government really don't care about its people."

For his eighteen year old son as he escorts the body of his father in the pan of this pick up truck -the memories of his father continue to play in his head.

Pedro Garcia, son
"I feel sad inside but never the less I am still happy because now he will not complain that you know what 'oh my back and my head' and he died with a big smile on his face which I am very happy for that because he has always teach us especially me I have learnt to always smile every time something is bad, every time something goes wrong he would say you know what 'there's is no problem, everything is ok, we will find a solution' and we would call him the magic man."

Candida Cornejo - Wife
"I have a pain that nobody can understand only me alone can feel. I think everybody have a time when they face their own and then they will know how much it takes to bury a person that you love."

Oscar Barela is detained pending charges. It is left to be seen if he will be charged for murder since his punch didn't kill Cornejo; he died when he fell from the force of the blow.

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