Georgetown Cop beaten and dies

Roy Robert Fernandez

One murder was recorded this weekend and at news time tonight, one of two persons is in detention for the homicide of a cop. Twenty-six year old Roy Robert Fernandez was brutally attacked by two men, as he walked to his home in Georgetown, Stann Creek District in the company of two females. Fernandez did not make a police report and on Saturday, he sought medical attention, but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani, Cayetano, Reporting

The quiet village of Georgetown, a predominantly Garifuna community in South Stann Creek, is tonight mourning the death of one of its own, following a brutal altercation over a week ago.  Twenty-six-year-old Roy Robert Fernandez, a police constable attached to Precinct One in Belize City, returned home to spend a month’s vacation with his family when he fell victim to the wrath of a pair of brothers.  Ivy Valerio-Fernandez says her son was in the company of two women when he was accosted by a jealous ex-boyfriend.

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez, Mother of Deceased

“According to the female he was with, she told me that Roy was with her at her mom’s house, along with her sister and then one of her ex-[boyfriend’s] brother came to the house and then he looked at her in a funny way.  So, she told Roy not to go home by himself because she had already sensed the danger since she had been living in that family.”

Heeding the warning, Fernandez departed for home with both sisters when, upon reaching a concrete bridge a short distance away, he was reportedly approached by Ivan Castillo, who got into a physical exchange with him.

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez

“He started to fight with my son, but one of the family members came and called the oldest brother.  My son thought that this oldest brother was coming to part the fight but instead two of them brutalized my son.”

Isani Cayetano

“Several days passed before he shared with you what actually took place and the fact that he was in great pain.  What happened at the point where you were informed of this incident?”

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez

“I told my son, because the Sunday morning I asked him what happened and I told him to go and report it.  He said, “Mom leave it alone.  Leave it alone.”  I told him to go and see the doctor and he said, “Don’t worry mom, I’m okay.”  But I can see it on him that he was in pain.”

Despite several attempts to convince the young officer to seek medical attention, he adamantly refused.  It wasn’t until Saturday, one week later, that he finally gave in and visited the polyclinic in nearby Independence.  But, by then it was too late.

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez

“On Saturday morning, he complained to me about a pain.  So I told him, “Son, let’s go and see the doctor.  So I told him.  He said, “No ma!” And I told him again, “If you cannot stand the pain anymore just let me know and I’m going to take you to the doctor.”  About minutes to twelve that day he told me, “Ma, take me to the doctor.”  Alright, that is because he cannot urine anymore, he was having pain with his urination.  So when I took him there he got three drips and then now and again I asked him how he felt.  He said, “Still having pain.”  My son took, got three drips and he still didn’t get better. I saw that my son was struggling for his life.”

Isani Cayetano

“What was that final moment like?”

Ivy Valerio-Fernandez

“It was very hard for me.  I have to thank my brother who was there with me.  If it was not for my brother I wouldn’t know how I was going to take the loss of my son.  It’s very hard but I leave everything to God.”

The family contends that the ex-girlfriend was repeatedly threatened that anyone seen courting or socializing with her would be beaten or killed.  That revelation, according to Fernandez’s mother, was revealed after the fact.  Nonetheless, Roy’s sibling, Gilda, says his life was unfairly cut short.

Gilda Fernandez

Gilda Fernandez, Sister of Deceased

“All I need is justice to be served because my bredda dead unfairly.  Jealousy that noh wah put nobody nowhere.  We noh need fu kill just seka man or woman, you know.  We understand we noh deh ya forever but come on mein dis da wah small village fi dehn simple thing, you see.  The sad thing about it, my bredda mi deh pan one month leave fu spend with ih family, dah noh fi nobody out deh.  Da fu spend with ih family.  Less than two weeks time my bredda spend with we and he dead.”

Independence police have since detained one of the brothers and are looking for another in connection with the incident. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.