7 News Belize

Father Tried For Killing Stepson
posted (April 11, 2019)
It was one of most gruesome and shocking murders of 2015: 21 year old Jose Maderos was chopped up inside his Kut Avenue house in Belize City. The machete wielder was allegedly his stepfather, 46 year old Patrick Castillo. Today in court, Castillo's trial ended and Justice Colin Williams reserved judgement until May 9th to give his verdict.

Now at the trial the Crown relied mainly on the testimony of its only eye witness, Liny Mauricio, Castillo's step-daughter. She said that on the night of April 1st while she was walking out of the house and was passing the bedroom of her step-father and her mother, she heard her step-father cursing. She said that when she reached the front door she heard her brother, the deceased, shouting in Spanish, which when she translated it into English, meant "black pedophile."

She testified that her step-father came out of the bedroom, armed with a machete and he pushed her out of the way and he swung the machete at his brother. She said the first chop motion missed, but the second one did not, then a struggle ensued between her bother and her step-father for the machete. She said her step-father held the machete and continued to chop her brother, who ran out of the house into the yard. She said her step-father delivered the final chop while her brother was in sitting position. Maderos was chopped to the left side of his neck, his head, his left forearm and his back. He died shortly after he received the injuries. Castillo took the witness stand and he gave sworn testimony. He said his daughter came and told him that her foot was hurting because her brother, the deceased, had stepped on it. He said Jose then strode into the room without a shirt and smelled of alcohol. Castillo said he told Jose to leave, but he refused. He said rushed at him and punched him - and he picke dup a machete in self defence. He said Jose attacked him and he grabbed the machete and tried to take it away from him. He said a struggle ensued between them and when they fell he managed to get possession of the machete and he threw it away. Castillo said Jose rushed at him and this time he took the machete and swung it at him. He said he saw Jose fall and he saw a lot of blood. Castillo called another daughter as his witness and she testified and corroborated his testimony.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize