Some 45 women were killed so far this year, according to the Observatory of Gender Violence against Women of the Judiciary, after the recent case in La Fortuna de San Carlos.
About 16 of those women died due to femicide. A crime of this kind occurs when the woman’s partner or spouse is the perpetrator of the crime on grounds of gender violence.
Crisley Jael Martínez Rodríguez, 19, died on Sunday at the hands of her significant other, Pedro Arce Araya Transit Police Officer, who was 56 years old.
The case, classified in principle as an improper relationship, was denounced by the National Children’s Trust (PANI) before judicial instances, since the courtship began when Martinez was still a minor. However, the complaint was rejected.
It is presumed that jealousy triggered the dispute. In the midst of a heated argument, Arce shot Martinez with his regulation weapon, and then ended his life the same way.
In 2016, 23 women died as a result of femicide. Eleven of them had their partners as executioners.
This is not a problem for a specific family or woman. It is a problem of society, because all these deceased women are mothers, sisters or cousins.”
Last year, Guanacaste was the province with the highest number of femicides.