Source: CART Editorial
Author: Giuliana Rojas Cazco
January 12, 2015
Translation: Gregoire Ancellin
Review: Jorge B.
Case Summary:
The Canadian Association for Rights and Truth is currently working on Yarold’s case to have his innocence recognized, his release ordered, and the real culprits of the murder of María Teresa González González investigated.
On March 13, 2012, agents of the Agencia Veracruzana de Investigaciones (Veracruz Investigation Agency) or AVI showed up at the house of Yarold Leyte Quintanar, handcuffed him and took him in an unmarked vehicle to the AVI where, after they stripped him naked and blindfolded him, they subjected him to acts of torture, including beatings, suffocation and electric shock, to have him confess to being responsible for the killing of María Teresa González González whose body had been found on March 2 in an abandoned house in front of Yarold’s house.
Since he would not confess to the crime, police officers ordered Yarold to get in touch with his ex-wife in order to find her. Once she was found, the agents went to her house with Yarold and also transferred her to the AVI, where they beat her repeatedly, forcing Yarold to listen to the beatings.
After about 10 hours of physical and psychological torture, threats to the life and physical integrity of his children and ex-wife, Yarold finally agreed to confess to the killing of María Teresa.
Despite the numerous inconsistencies and irregularities in the criminal investigation, Yarold has been deprived of his freedom for about 3 years, accused of the murder of María Teresa González González, only on the basis of a confession obtained under torture since within the criminal investigation there is no physical evidence of Yarold’s responsibility. Moreover, the cause of death of María Teresa does not coincide with the description of the facts found in Yarold’s confession. When he was questioned by the public Prosecutor’s Office investigating agent, Yarold said that the victim had died of suffocation.
However, according to the autopsy the victim died of a sharp and penetrating wound of approximately 20 cm in the middle line, parallel to the abdomen, which resulted in exposure and sectioning of the viscera and acute haemorrhage. In his statement under torture, there is no mention of any such injury, nor is there evidence that the victim had bled to death at home.
On the other hand, according to statements by the brother of the victim, she was receiving death threats, but these threats were never investigated. In addition, the agent of the public prosecutor who questioned Yarold, Bernardo Hernández Muñoz, was linked to the organized criminal group Los Zetas and was accused of receiving a payment of 20,000 pesos a month from this criminal organization.
Currently Yarold Christian Leyte Quintanar is in jail at the CERESO (Social Rehabilitation Centre) of Tuxpan, Veracruz, accused of aggravated intentional homicide in case 55/2012-VII before the Court of First Instance of Veracruz.
