He hit by a couple of motorcyclists What occurred on the night of Sunday, June 28, at the entrance to the Atlántida neighborhood, zone 18 of the capital, triggered a criminal investigation that went through two courts in less than 24 hours.
Videos spread on social networks recorded the sequence of the event, which the Public Ministry later presented as evidence against Jorge David Rodas Linares, the main suspect of running over and causing serious injuries to Kevin Alexander Jiménez Ambrocio and Nidia Renata Bautista García.
Sunday June 28 | After 10:00 p.m.
Jiménez Ambrocio and Bautista García were riding a motorcycle when they were hit by a car at the entrance to the Atlántida neighborhood, zone 18 of the capital.
A video captured that, after the impact, the driver got out of the vehicle, observed that a person remained under the car and tried to pull him or her. Seconds later he got back into the vehicle, backed up and passed over one of the victims again before accelerating to leave the scene.
While several people were recording the scene, shouts could be heard: “Don’t let him go, don’t let him go!” and “Careful, careful!”, when the driver fled.
the same night
Agents of the National Civil Police (PNC) located and detained Jorge David Rodas Linares in the parking lot of a shopping center in the Atlántida neighborhood.
The PNC reported that the driver was brought to justice and convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.
“The PNC strongly condemns the conduct of citizens who, under the influence of alcohol, decide to get behind the wheel. A vehicle in the hands of an irresponsible person becomes a lethal weapon,” it said in a statement.
Furthermore, he stated that the case should not be considered a traffic accident, but rather the direct result of an irresponsible decision, and announced that he would reinforce alcohol testing and road control operations.
Before the Police arrived at the scene, a group of people detained and beat Rodas Linares.
Monday June 29
The PNC report indicates that Rodas Linares was detained for negligent injuries, a situation with which the victims’ relatives did not agree, which is why they demonstrated in front of the Court Tower to demand justice.
Monday June 29 | Before 7:00 p.m.
During the hearing in the Peace Court, the Public Ministry charged Jorge David Rodas Linares with the crimes of negligent injuries and attempted homicide.
The prosecutor maintained that the charge of attempted homicide was based on the fact that, according to the videos included in the investigation, the driver allegedly noticed that a person was under the vehicle, got back into the car, backed up and ran over him again and then left the place without providing assistance.
That same day, the medical report from the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) indicated that Nidia Renata Bautista García remained hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Ceibal Accident Hospital, with a reserved prognosis. He added that he suffered friction burns, facial injuries and the amputation of his right arm below the elbow.
In the case of Kevin Alexander Jiménez Ambrocio, the IGSS reported that he had a radioulnar dislocation, that he had already undergone surgery and that he was progressing favorably.
During that hearing, relatives of both victims also testified.
Hilda Ambrosio Gabriel, mother-in-law of Nidia Renata, asked that the case not go unpunished and requested that justice be done.
Nidia Renata’s daughter recounted the search for her mother after the accident. “By a pure miracle my mother is alive,” he said before the judge.
For his part, Nicolás Jiménez, father of Kevin Alexander, asked the judge to take into account the impact that the event has had on both families.
Monday June 29 | The defense posture
Jorge David Rodas Linares’ lawyer rejected the accusation of attempted homicide and maintained that the Public Ministry had not proven intent.
According to the defense, the videos had not yet been legally incorporated into the process and did not demonstrate that the driver had acted with the intention of causing the injuries. Furthermore, he argued that the case should be investigated as a traffic incident and that the presumption of innocence of his sponsor should be respected.
Monday June 29 | Before 6:00 p.m.
After analyzing the evidence presented by the Public Ministry, the judge on duty at the Justice of the Peace concluded that the video made it possible to observe that the driver realized that a person remained under the car and, even so, he got back into the vehicle and backed away.
The judge considered that this conduct could fall within the crime of very serious injuries, so she decided to refer the file to a Criminal Court of First Instance, estimating that the penalty provided for that crime exceeded the jurisdiction of the Peace Court.
Monday June 29 | Before 11:30 p.m.
A judge on duty at the Criminal Court of First Instance decided to link Jorge David Rodas Linares to criminal proceedings for the crimes of attempted homicide and very serious injuries, both to the detriment of Nidia Renata Bautista García, and for negligent injuries to the detriment of Kevin Alexander Jiménez Ambrocio.
The judge also ordered that the accused remain in preventive detention in the Preventive Detention Center for Men in zone 18, considering that the danger of escape had not been eliminated.
In addition, he gave the Public Ministry a period of two months to expand the investigation and scheduled the intermediate stage hearing for September 11, at 10:00 a.m., in the Third Criminal Court of First Instance, led by Judge Mynor Moto.
