Alwin Gabb stabbed Nolan Arana to death on July 1, 2007

BELIZE CITY, Fri. July 12, 2019– Alwin Gabb, 46, who was convicted of the murder of Nolan Arana, an employee of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, was given a fixed sentence of 25 years today by the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Chief Justice Benjamin deducted 6 years and 5 months from his sentence, which was the time he spent on remand. The remaining sentence amounted to 17 years and 5 months.

Chief Justice Benjamin also stipulated that the remaining sentence is to take effect from December 3, 2013, when Gabb was found guilty.

Arana was killed about 7 p.m. on July 1, 2007. He had gone through an alley that is connected to Neal Pen Road to get food from Gabb’s ex-common-law wife. Gabb met him through the alley and accused him of being the person who caused his ex-common-law wife to “disrespect” him.

Gabb then punched Arana several times and pulled out a knife. He then stabbed Arana multiple times in his chest and back.

Arana tried to use his bicycle as a shield to fend off the knife thrusts, but he was unsuccessful.

It was Gabb’s ex-common-law wife who was the main witness at the trial. She testified that she saw Gabb stab Arana.

Gabb gave a statement from the dock in which he said that he was at his house on Dolphin Street at the time of the incident. He also denied giving a caution statement to the police in which he said he stabbed Arana in self-defense.

Before he decided on the sentence, Chief Justice Benjamin heard the aggravating factors from Crown Counsel Sherigne Rodriguez and the mitigating factors from attorney Leslie Mendez. The aggravating factors were that during the time Gabb has been in prison, he committed several infractions and there was no provocation on the part of Arana when Gabb stabbed him.

The mitigation factor was that prior to the incident for which he was found guilty, Gabb did not have any conviction.