Ical was chopped to death in Armenia

ARMENIA, Cayo District, Mon. July 22, 2019– On Sunday morning, March 31, the body of Hermelindo Ical, 30, a volunteer soldier of the Belize Defence Force, B Company Detachment, Cayo District, who was also a farmer of Armenia, was found lying on the roadside in some bushes not far from his house by a man who was walking on the road.

He had been hacked to death, and chop wounds could be seen on his head and body.

An investigation into the murder led to Maximo Chiac, 23, a farmer of Springfield, Cayo District. The arrest has been made 4 months after Ical’s death, and police said that they have sufficient evidence to charge Chiac with the murder of the soldier.

Today, Chiac was taken to the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court, where he was arraigned. No plea was taken from him, and he was remanded until September 30.

ACP Joseph Myvett said that Ical was drinking with two men in the village on Saturday night, March 30. It is not yet known what events led to the murder, but robbery was not the motive, because Ical’s phone and wallet were found with him.

Ical’s uncle, who owned the bar in the village where Ical had been socializing, said that Ical had been there drinking with three men. At about 8:30 p.m., his companions left and he was then drinking alone.

Ical told him that he was going to see someone, and walked out of the club. He went down the road and later came back at about 9:30, but the club was already closed, and his uncle did not permit Ical to enter.

Ical then asked him to take him home, but he did not, and he saw Ical walking down the road, and that was the last time he was seen alive.