Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Stabbing in Blackman Eddy Village

On Saturday, June 29, 37-year-old Paul Arthurs was fatally stabbed after an altercation in Blackman Eddy Village. Today, the man charged in connection with Arthur’s death, Chad Trapp was arraigned in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court. Trapp appeared unrepresented, facing a single count of murder. No plea was taken, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until November 25. Several members of Arthurs’s family came to the arraignment, wearing t-shirts that bore his image. Moses Arthurs, brother of the deceased, says the family is hopeful that justice will be served.

Moses Arthurs, Brother of Paul Arthurs (Deceased): “The family is here today because we are actually here in support of my brother’s death and also to actually show our face so that we can get some justice. We have really been going through a lot but at this moment we feel like we have had a head start in this situation you know the police had made an arrest and a charge so we are actually happy for that and we are hoping that this case will proceed and it will get some justice for my brother. By my perspective, I believe that the best thing we did was to give the police the opportunity to actually work on this case. I want to give a shout out to the detective who took this case because he was in constant communication with me and I have always given him good words and encouragement to forward with this case and to look at every point and aspect in this case. I myself as an individual had actually tried my best to get out information I could and forward it to him so this case could have got to the point where is that. So I feel very confident right now based on these charges that we we’ll have some justice. Yes, the young man Name is Chad Trapp and he was charged, today will be arraigned and finally charged on this charge. So you know, I am like I said, I’m happy about that and hopefully that this case will have enough evidence to actually proceed and that we will get a conviction and that this will be something that will justify for us as a family. “

Reporter: Does the family know Mr. Trapp? 

Moses Arthurs, Brother of Paul Arthurs (Deceased): “Well yes, Mr. Trapp I know the young man and basically the young man is my relation, family. We are related by family. So I do know Mr. Trapp.”

Reporter: Is he a relative of Mr. Paul’s girlfriend, ex-girlfriend? 
Moses Arthurs, Brother of Paul Arthurs (Deceased):“Yes, they are cousins, first cousins.”

And while Trapp now awaits his trial, Moses Arthurs says that there are others who contributed to his brother’s death that he feels should also be held accountable.

Moses Arthurs, Brother of Paul Arthurs (Deceased): “Me, I’m very excited, I’m happy, not to say happy of you know someone being like, you know, charged or anything, but I’m happy that justice will be served because at the end of the day our family has endured a lot. This is not really easy for the family but we were always, you know, thinking in our mind that yes, something will come out of this because there was evidence, there’s enough evidence. And I know there was evidence from day one, right? There was names called, people finger pointed at that we knew that was involved. So we’re glad that this came to this and that we have a day in here to stand and say, well hey at least we have some hopes that justice will be served.”

Reporter: Do you believe that more persons will be charged or did more people play a hand in your brother’s death? 
Moses Arthurs, Brother of Paul Arthurs (Deceased): “Well yes, of course. I even questioned the police in Roaring Creek Police station concerned that because there was a video that surfaced where two females was really assaulting my brother. I mean, he was on the ground and was physically assaulting him. And when I questioned it, they said, well look your brother is dead. He would have to be the one to proceed with a charge against these people who assaulted him. But for me, I believe that’s not fair. The system here is really messed up because those people contributed to my brother’s death. If they did not assaulted him and left him there, maybe he would not have died. So I believe that some charges should be levied against these young ladies. I mean, accessory to murder or something because they actually harmed my brother and left him in a position where his life was taken.”

The altercation that led to Arthurs’s stabbing began with an argument he had with village resident Tisha Ireland. While Arthur’s family maintains that the two were a couple, Ireland made an official report to police that she was no longer involved with Arthurs. In her statement, she told police she had gone to the bathroom when Arthurs grabbed her and dragged her off with what she believes was an intention to rape her. Trapp reportedly came to assist when he heard Ireland screaming for help