21
Julio César Freitez was wounded while he was on the street. He was studying
accounting, was single and had no children. He did not work, but was about
to begin an internship in the Caracas Metro. The victim would have helped
with household expenses once he graduated. The witness had to stop
working due to the events.
There have been no funerary expenses because the remains of the victim
have not been delivered to the next of kin. COFAVIC covered the costs
involved in pursuit of justice.
When the witness heard that her son was wounded, she went to look for him
on the streets. She looked for a vehicle to take him to the hospital, for which
she stopped a passing car. She spent all night at the hospital, witnessing her
son’s agony until he died. After taking him to the morgue, she heard no more
of him. She suffers very much because she has not been able to bury her son
in a decent manner and because justice has not been served. It has been
impossible for her to forget the events. Since the facts occurred, she has
worked taking care of children at her home.
She continues to suffer
depression. She has received psychological assistance together with her
other young children, who were severely affected by the event.
27.
María Casilda Valero Suárez, a sister of Gerónimo Valero Suárez.
When he died, Gerónimo Valero Suárez was a blue-collar worker at a cauldron
factory, and at the same time he worked as a blacksmith. At the time of the
event he earned minimum wage.
The victim heard of the death of the victim and incurred funeral expenses, but
his mortal remains were never delivered to her. For this reason she became
indebted. Through COFAVIC, she received contributions to cover those debts.
COFAVIC also covered costs in connection with the search for justice.
Since her brother’s death, the witness has had to take over responsibility for
her mother, in addition to her two children, who have not been able to
complete their primary education due to financial problems. She no longer
has the financial support of her brother, who was the main provider for the
household. Since he died, she had to go out and work.
The witness heard of her brother’s death at eleven p.m. She went out to the
street to aid him, but he was already dead. Another brother, who was with
Gerónimo, was not allowed to aid him. When the body was taken away, the
brothers went to ask for it at the hospital, but they did not give it to them.
The following morning the sister returned with the coffin, but they told her
that they had already buried him in a common grave.
The family has not received psychological treatment for lack of financial
means, especially because they have to cover the cost of medicine for the
mother, who has a heart condition and continues to experience the situation
again every time they mention circumstances pertaining to the victim. The
witness and her mother continue to suffer insomnia and depression. What
they want most of all is for justice to be served.