Dominican Republic extradites prime suspect in murder of driver Deivy Abreu in Santiago
Jhovanny de Jesús Metz was brought from Jamaica to the Dominican Republic, accused of leading the attack that killed truck driver Deivy Abreu in Santiago.
Repatriation from Jamaica of number one suspect in case of driver murdered in Santiago
Jhovanny de Jesús Metz, identified as the principal defendant in the murder of driver Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, was repatriated to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday on a flight from Jamaica, according to eldia.com.do. The transfer took place through the International Airport of the Americas (AILA), after completion of procedures coordinated by the Public Ministry, Interpol and the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
De Jesús Metz had been captured in Jamaica in August last year for immigration irregularities. The crime attributed to him occurred in April in Santiago province and resulted in the death of a solid waste collection truck driver who died while receiving medical care at the Social Security Hospital Presidente Estrella Ureña.
A pursuit spanning several kilometres
According to the judicial file, Abreu Quezada was driving along the South Ring Road, Ensanche Bermúdez sector, when he was intercepted by De Jesús Metz and other motorcyclists. The group demanded that he stop the truck, alleging a supposed vehicular collision. Noticing the violent behaviour of the defendants, the victim did not stop.
De Jesús Metz then got off his motorcycle and placed it in front of the truck to block the way, but the driver did not yield and continued forward, dragging the motorcycle. The pursuit continued for several kilometres until the driver entered the parking area of the Santiago Palace of Justice seeking refuge, where he was finally caught by the mob.
Seven co-defendants already in preventive detention
Seven motorcyclists linked to the case have been in preventive detention since April, by order of the Judicial Office of Permanent Care Services in Santiago. The defendants are Adony Antonio Ureña Ventura, Andrés Monclú González, Carlos Andrés Roa Morán, Miguel García Balbuena, Joanfry Joel Núñez, Juan Carlos Soto Ortiz and Kevin Francisco Metz Cruz, held in different penitentiaries in the northern part of the country.
The Santiago Public Ministry, through its Department of Physical Abuse (Homicides), compiled material, documentary and testimonial evidence to demonstrate that the defendants acted as an organised mob. Among the evidence is a bladed weapon—a black hunting knife—with which one of them inflicted a fatal wound on Abreu Quezada in his right lower limb.
Footage shows intent to kill
Video footage compiled by the Public Ministry recorded the defendants shouting "kill him, kill him" during the pursuit, which the Public Ministry considers direct evidence of the group's criminal intent. The file also dismisses any claim that a motorcyclist was injured, noting that there is no evidence whatsoever of that.
The provisional legal classification presented against the first seven detainees includes charges for violations of articles 265, 266, 296, 297 and 302 of the Dominican Penal Code, corresponding to criminal association and homicide.
Court presentation planned within hours
The Santiago Public Ministry announced that it would carry out the necessary procedures in the coming hours to present De Jesús Metz before the corresponding court and continue with the criminal proceedings being conducted against him for the murder of Abreu Quezada.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago