Sister of woman accused of murdering Gabriela Pratts disappears in Aibonito
Puerto Rico Police activated an alert for the disappearance of Miriathny Dialyan Avilés, a key witness in the case of the murder of Gabriela Nicole Pratts.
Key witness disappears in case of murder of teenager in Aibonito
Puerto Rico Police activated an alert on Monday for the disappearance of Miriathny Dialyan Avilés, 18 years old, half-sister of Anthonieshka Avilés Cabrera, the young woman accused of the murder of Gabriela Nicole Pratts Rosario. According to telemundo51.com, Dialyan is a witness in the ongoing judicial process.
The mother of the missing young woman indicated that Dialyan was driving an Apollo RFZ motorcycle, model 125CC, red in colour, and was last seen in Aibonito, a rural municipality located in the centre of the island.
The crime that shocked Puerto Rico
Gabriela Nicole Pratts Rosario was 16 years old when she was murdered in the early morning of 11 August, a day before turning 17 and about to begin her final year of school. What began as a fight between young people following the closing of summer at the public plaza in Aibonito ended with eight stab wounds inflicted with a knife in an area known as Desvío Roberto Colón.
According to Puerto Rico's Department of Justice, the crime was committed jointly by Elvia Cabrera Rivera, 40 years old, and her daughter Anthonieshka Avilés Cabrera, 17. Some accounts indicate that the argument started when an older sister of Gabriela was assaulted and she attempted to defend her. A friend who also tried to protect her was injured. Gabriela's mother attempted to reach her daughter but was held back by others present. Police arrived at 12:15 a.m. Gabriela was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Charged with first-degree murder
Elvia Cabrera and Anthonieshka Avilés Cabrera were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and violation of the Firearms Act. Each was set a bail of $1,000,000. Both pleaded not guilty and refused to make public statements. They are currently held in separate prisons: one in Bayamón and the other in Ponce.
Secretary of Justice Lourdes Gómez Torres maintained that mother and daughter acted in "common agreement". The Prosecutor's Office requested that Anthonieshka be tried as an adult, given that the first-degree murder charge permits this by law. The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals rejected that the young woman face the trial in the Juvenile Court. If found guilty, both could spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Anthonieshka's defence requested a change of jurisdiction arguing that the young woman had the mental capacity of a 13-year-old child. The appeals court halted the preliminary hearing while it considered that motion. The hearing was finally postponed to 13 January at 2:00 p.m., after one of the defence lawyers presented a health issue. Elvia Cabrera was already found to have a case to answer to for trial, as were all charges against both defendants.
A community demands justice
Gabriela's funeral was attended by hundreds of people in Aibonito, known as the "City of Flowers". She was waked at the Nu Delta Chi Fraternity and buried in the La Paz del Señor cemetery. Her mother, friends and neighbours marched demanding justice. Gabriela's story went viral on social media beyond the boundaries of the municipality.
Her teachers described her as a young woman of gentle character, with a love for animals and the desire to study psychology. The day of her death was the last Sunday before the return to school.
The Secretary of Justice acknowledged the "collective indignation" that the crime has generated throughout the island and confirmed that the investigation remains open.
Source: Google News PR — Crime