Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Public Ministry spokesman Yuri Mora said today that the testimony of Edgar José Velásquez, a friend of Keyla Martinez, the dead assistant from a police station in La Esperanza and who was detained at the same station that night, “must not change the investigation” of the security and justice entities on the resounding case.
The death of the student provoked a revolt of the national population and the international community. While in police custody on Sunday in a cell in the police station of the central-western city, he died of mechanical asphyxia, according to the forensic autopsy.
You can read: The autopsy indicates that traces were found in Keyla Martínez’s mouth
The protests and a series of demonstrations focused on the possible involvement of police officers in the event. All items assigned to that station were transferred to Tegucigalpa and Peace, which generated criticism and questions indicating the rise of senior leaders of the institution.
Martinez, din 26 years old old man, he was that night with doctor Edgar José Velásquez, who was also arrested and transferred by the National Police agents to the city post. In the last hours and after his silence since Martínez’s death, he appeared in front of the press.
VIDEO: Interview with family members and lawyer in the case of Keyla Martínez
“He said he wanted to close the sweater,” Velasquez explained CNN. However, the Public Ministry, the investigating body of the case, reiterated that these statements do not change at all the case investigation processes carried out by the Technical Agency for Criminal Investigations, ATIC, in the cell where the death took place, the police station and other allusive elements.
“We are investigating through statements, witnesses, videos on mobile phones and on the cameras from the police station, which existed,” explains Mora. In addition, the official explained that, at the time of the events, the national police officers were serving at the station and not only men, as was originally the case.
“The preliminary report of the forensic autopsy will not change. The death was due to mechanical asphyxia,” Mora concluded. Forensic experts point out that there is no more accurate version than that of a homicide.
Police officers who served shifts at the police station were called to testify and present physical and psychological examinations and studies. The investigation aims to clarify the mysterious death of Martínez, although, so far, despite the fact that it has become one of the most publicized cases of alleged crimes in Honduras, no people have been detained.