black blouse, a pink sweater, black sandals, a brassiere (white/pink), and underpants
(salmon/pale pink);50 she had a navel piercing with a ring, a choker-style necklace, and there
was “a bullet wound with powder tattooing on her forehead,” as well as “bloodstained” clothes,
“she was not wearing her brassiere,” rather it was placed between her jeans and her hips, “belt
removed,” “zipper undone” and “blouse on back to front.”51 In addition, there was “reddishpurple bruising round her left eye and cheek” and scratches on her left knee and side, with no
vital signs.52
57.
Various objects at the scene of the crime were collected as evidence.53 These were
wrapped up and placed in the custody of the Public Prosecution Service’s crime scene experts.
In addition, according to information gathered by “the reporting agents,” several individuals who
were present stated that “a white taxi-type vehicle had stopped there, possibly to dump the
body.” However, these individuals “did not give their names for fear of reprisals.” At around
7.30 a.m., the body was transferred by a police vehicle to the Zone 3 Judiciary’s morgue. 54 The
same day, the PNC police report was drawn up and the Public Prosecution Service’s Form on the
Removal and Transfer of Corpses was completed.55
58.
The parents of Claudina Velásquez found out about the discovery of their daughter’s body
by a telephone call from a friend of one of Elsa Claudina Paiz Vidal’s cousins, who advised them
that there was an unidentified body with the characteristics of their daughter in the morgue of
the Zone 3 Judiciary’s Forensic Medicine Service. They went to the morgue,56 where at around
midday on August 13, 2005, the Forensic Medicine Service returned their daughter’s body to
Cf. Communication No. 2544/2005 of August 13, 2005, PNC Station 142, Zone 11, Guatemala City (evidence
file, folio 23); Form on the Removal and Transfer of Corpses of August 13, 2005, Public Prosecution Service (evidence
file, folio 27), and Record No. 828.09.2005, of the Guatemalan Voluntary Fire Service (evidence file, folio 33); Report of
August 16, 2005, of the Criminal Investigations Expert of the Public Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 56), and
Photographic album of the actions taken at the scene on August 13, 2005 (evidence file, folios 2796 to 2805).
51
Cf. Report of August 19, 2005, of the Criminal Investigation Experts of the Public Prosecution Service (evidence
file, folio 40), and Report on external medical examination and forensic processing of the crime scene of August 30,
2005 (evidence file, folio 35).
52
Cf. Report of the investigator of the Unit to Combat Murders of Women of the PNC Criminal Investigation
Service of August 13, 2005 (evidence file, folio 71); Report of August 16, 2005, of the Criminal Investigations Expert of
the Public Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 56); Autopsy report of August 16, 2005 (evidence file, folios 30 and
31); Photographic album of the actions taken at the scene on August 13, 2005 (evidence file, folio 2802), and Statement
of the forensic physician of January 20, 2009, before the assistant prosecutor of the Public Prosecution Service (evidence
file, folio 2880).
53
The objects collected as evidence were: (1) a bullet casing of unknown caliber; (2) a bullet of unknown caliber;
(3) a packet of dehydrated vegetables marked “Ramen Cup,” and (4) the pink sweater she wore with possible blood
stains. Cf. Communication MP-001-2005-69430 of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Public Prosecution
Service of September 23, 2005 (evidence file, folio 4613); Report No. 2242-05 of the Technical and Scientific
Department of the Public Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 4615), and Photographic album of the actions taken at
the scene on August 13, 2005 (evidence file, folio 2804). It was recorded that the following accessories that she was
wearing were also collected: (5) a small silver earring for pierced ear with a rose-colored pearl, and (6) a pink chokertype necklace with a medal portraying Osiris. Cf. Communication No. 2544/2005 of August 13, 2005, PNC Station 142,
Zone 11, Guatemala City (evidence file, folio 23), and Report of the investigator of the Unit to Combat Murders of
Women of the PNC Criminal Investigation Service of August 13, 2005 (evidence file, folios 69 and 70).
54
Cf. Communication No. 2544/2005 of August 13, 2005, PNC Station 142, Zone 11, Guatemala City (evidence
file, folio 23).
55
Cf. Communication No. 2544/2005 of August 13, 2005, PNC Station 142, Zone 11, Guatemala City (evidence
file, folio 23), and Form on the Removal and Transfer of Corpses of August 13, 2005, Public Prosecution Service
(evidence file, folio 26).
56
Cf. Statement by Jorge Rolando Velásquez Durán of September 22, 2005, before the assistant prosecutor of the
Public Prosecution Service (evidence file, folios 10 and 11); Statement by Jorge Rolando Velásquez Durán of January 24,
2006, before the assistant prosecutor of the Public Prosecution Service (evidence file, folio 3874); Psychiatric
assessment of Jorge Rolando Velásquez Durán of October 21, 2009 (evidence file, folio 198), and Interview with Elsa
Claudina Paiz Vidal on August 15, 2005, by the investigator of the PNC Criminal Investigation Service (evidence file, folio
2903).
50
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