Paraguayan woman detained over double murder in Warnes claims to have been companion of Brazilian victims
María Belén A. C. will appear before a preventative judge this Thursday. Her defence denies involvement in the attack and alleges police torture.
Paraguayan woman arrested in homicide case in Valle Sánchez to be presented before judge this Thursday
According to El Deber, Paraguayan citizen María Belén A. C. will be brought before a preventative judge on Thursday, 22 October, as part of the investigation into the murder of two Brazilians that occurred in the El Valle urbanisation of Akualand, in the Valle Sánchez area, municipality of Warnes. Her lawyer maintains that the woman worked as a companion to the foreign men and denies any involvement in the attack.
Lawyer Carlos Rondón stated that his client cooperated with investigators from the beginning: she handed over her mobile telephone and provided the device password. According to his account, the woman was inside the house at the moment of the double murder and waited for police to arrive.
"She was in the shower at the moment when the individuals arrived to carry out the contract killing. Upon hearing the gunshots she hid and, once they stopped, she came out of the bathroom and waited for the police to cooperate," Rondón recounted.
The lawyer announced that he will request the release of the accused, charged with murder, and questioned the validity of the evidence that supported her arrest. He also rejected the claim that there were any significant contradictions in her statements and dismissed the notion that the woman maintained any sentimental or family connection with the victims.
"She has no police record, she has absolutely nothing to do with this case. Regarding the activity she was engaged in, evidently she provides companionship services to adult individuals," the lawyer stated.
Allegations of police torture
Rondón alleged that officers from the Department of Criminal Analysis and Intelligence (DACI) beat the woman to force her to incriminate herself. According to his account, the detainee received blows to the nose and ribs—an area where she had previous surgical history—and the uniformed officers placed a bag over her head while demanding she accept responsibility for the crime.
"They placed a bag over her head and demanded that she take the blame," the lawyer alleged.
Rondón stated that he has brought these matters to the attention of the Public Ministry. As a result, the Institute for Forensic Investigation (IDIF) was tasked with conducting a medical-forensic evaluation to determine whether the woman bears injuries consistent with the described assaults. The accusations against the police officers will need to be verified by the competent authorities.
The double murder on Tuesday, 20 October
The attack took place on the morning of Tuesday, 20 October at a residence in the El Valle urbanisation of Akualand. The victims were identified as Wendeles A. E., 29 years old, and Jefferson P. P., 46 years old, both Brazilian nationals. Armed men burst into the property, opened fire on the two foreign nationals and fled the scene.
Interim Attorney General José Armando Urioste Viera reported that the characteristics of the attack lead investigators to look into a possible link to organised crime. He also stated that information was requested from Brazil to determine the victims' backgrounds and establish whether they had connections with criminal organisations.
The legal status of the Paraguayan woman will need to be determined by the judicial authority in the coming hours, whilst investigations into the perpetrators of the attack remain open.
Source: El Deber