Cormack Lopez, Jr., a 38-year-old labourer, is hospitalized tonight at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after being chopped with a machete, allegedly by his brother-in-law, Findley Gladden, 41, a field worker for Belize Water Service and a former football star who played for Milpros and most recently for Kulture Yabra, both championship teams.
Findley has been charged in court with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm.
On Saturday, January 6, around 7:00 p.m., Findley and Cormack were at Findley’s home at #20 Racoon Street, where the argument began.
Findley told Amandala tonight that his brother-in-law, who lives in the back of the yard with his sister, came home and became upset because Findley asked his sister, Darlene Gladden, what Cormack was doing in the yard when police had already told him that he was not to come into the yard after a quarrel last month between the couple became violent.
Cormack became upset, began cursing Findley, and stormed out of the yard at Findley, who was going through the gate with his bike. Cormack began pointing in his face and they exchanged words, said Findley.
“Stay out of my business,” Cormack reportedly told Findley.
Findley went towards Central American Boulevard, while Cormack went in the opposite direction, towards the Racoon Police Station. Cormack, however, turned back, and began hollering at Findley, insulting Findley’s mother.
Cormack, on bicycle, rode past Findley, and was told “The freeness done!”
Cormack turned back again and rode at him in an aggressive manner, said Findley, who told him to “relax.”
Findley said that because Cormack appeared determined to attack him, he pulled out a machete that was on his bicycle and made a swipe at Cormack.
The machete cut Cormack on the face, said Findley. He said that he later learned that Cormack may have lost a tooth, may lose an eye, and has a very swollen face. This, he said, was told to him by his relatives who visited Cormack.
Findley’s mother, Mrs. Gwendolyn Gladden, told Amandala today that Cormack and Darlene, high school sweethearts, had been together for 17 years, but they, the Gladden family, had become tired of the abuse of Darlene by her son-in-law. During the years, Darlene has had three children for Cormack – one 16, 15 and a 2-year-old.
She was fearful of losing her daughter during the Christmas holidays, she said, because Darlene had been badly beaten by Cormack, who had a knife when police intervened at their home.
Findley Gladden was granted bail of $2,000, which he met, and his attorney, Michael Peyrefitte, asked the court for early disclosure of the evidence against his client.
The case has been adjourned for February 27.