It started as a pre-dawn fist fight and hours later a twenty-nine year old employee of a San Pedro Hotel was dead. It is suspected that it had to do with a pending debt and the cops are still investigating Saturday’s killing. But one man has been charged with manslaughter. Marion Ali was in San Pedro and has this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This is the spot on this unnamed street in the San Pedrito Area where twenty-nine year old Alejandro Uk was picked up by police shortly after one on Saturday morning. He had been badly beaten and some say he was thrown over the veranda of a two-storey building during a confrontation.
Sgt. Paulino Reyes, O.C., C.I.B., San Pedro
“Mr. Uk had gone to the room of one Enrique Pena for some undetermined reason up to now and he engaged in a physical confrontation with Mr. Pena. They engaged in a wrestle and fist throwing struggle.”
But when police arrived at the scene it was dark because there was a countrywide power outage and all they observed were minor facial injuries, but Uk later died at the San Pedro Lion’s Clinic.
Sgt. Paulino Reyes
“Mr. Uk did not present any signs of injury apart from a bleeding upper lip, so the only reason why he was taken to the clinic for medical attention was because he complained of pain. Externally we didn’t observe any signs of injury on him.”
Marion Ali
“So you believe that his death was caused by maybe a punch?”
Sgt. Paulino Reyes
“We are waiting on the results of the post mortem examination.”

Police say that Uk and a friend went to this house where Enrique Pena lived and that was where the struggle started between Uk and Pena. It ended up on the street in front of Pena’s house where police found Uk.
Sgt. Paulino Reyes
“According to Mr. Pena, Mr. Uk just attacked him for no apparent reason and he tried to defend himself. There are at least four witnesses that are corroborating with Mr. Pena’s story.”
Marion Ali
“Including the guy who went with Mr. Uk?”
Sgt. Paulino Reyes
“Including him, yes.”

But while that may be the case, sources who did not want to appear on camera told News Five that Pena had owed Uk money which he was trying to collect. And while police cannot confirm reports that Uk was flung over the veranda, they have charged Pena with Manslaughter.
Joan Johnson, Manager, Conch Shell Hotel
“I heard that it is a conflict regarding money owed to him somewhere in San Pedrito area and that he—it’s a very sad story that he was just beaten up.”
It’s a death that has touched the owners of Conch Shell Hotel where Uk lived and worked as the Manager.
Joan Johnson
“He’s done a fabulous job. I’ve gotten many, many compliments from many, many of our guests who will be very saddened to hear. He was fabulous. I have guests that are planning on coming back just to stay with Alex cause he did such a fine job for them.”
Uk had been socialising the night before and was preparing to celebrate his brother’s birthday on Sunday. That was reportedly why he had gone looking for Pena for repayment. Reporting fro News Five, Marion Ali.
Meanwhile a three hundred dollar reward is being offered by the Conch Shell Hotel for the return of the hotel keys which were in the possession of Uk. CH5

---