Three brothers – Jesus, Eliseo and Margarito Olivarez, who earlier this month were found guilty of murder, manslaughter and manslaughter, respectively, in respect of the death of Elvis Vasquez, 23, and the chopping of Elvis’ older brother, Victor, were sentenced today.
Jesus, 24, a father of three, received a life sentence after a jury of 12 had found them guilty. Justice Michelle Arana, who presided over the hearing, sentenced Eliseo and Margarito to 15 years each for manslaughter.
After the verdict was announced, the three brothers and their lawyer, Simeon Sampson, were given time to prepare mitigation pleas, and today in court, Justice of the Peace Miguel Riveroll, a retired teacher of Corozal District, asked the court to carefully consider Margarito’s character before sentencing.
The president of the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) Corozal, and Justice of the Peace, Loraine Zuniga, gave a character reference on behalf of Eliseo. No mitigation plea was taken on behalf of Jesus, the father of three children, all under 10 years.
Police said that on Friday, January 31, 2003, the three brothers got in an argument with Elvis and his brother, Victor. Elvis was chopped to death and stabbed seven times in the body, and Victor was severely chopped up and had to be hospitalized for some days.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Joseito Layout of Corozal Town.
“It had been a night of drinking at a Corozal club, coupled with anger over an old dispute, which caused the murder over the weekend,” police had reported.
Sometime around ten that night, Elvis and Victor were socializing at El Chital Nightclub on Second Street in the town, and a fistfight developed with the Olivarez brothers.
The Olivarez brothers then left for their home, on Eleventh Avenue, while the Vasquezes also left for their home, on Fifth Avenue.
The men met on Eleventh Street, where the Olivarezes live, and it was there that the chopping and stabbing occurred.
Besides the Vasquez brothers, Eliseo Olivarez was also chopped in the incident.
The three Olivarez brothers’ parents now have only one son not in prison.
Merlene Moody, Senior Crown Counsel, represented the prosecution.