Venezuelan charged with murdering wife

A DAY after Venezuelan mother of four Katherine Diaz, 26, was buried, her common-law husband, also a Venezuelan, appeared before a Princes Town magistrate charged with her murder.

Jose Gregorio Moya Guerra appeared before senior magistrate Rae Roopchand yesterday in the Rio Claro Magistrates Court, where the Princes Town court is also being housed.

Through interpreter Moonilal Ragbir, the charge was read to Guerra that on May 5 at King Street in Princes Town murdered Diaz by stabbing her repeatedly. Guerra was not called upon to plead as murder is a charge that is laid indictably.

The magistrate explained to the father of three that unlike in Venezuela, he would not be allowed to plead nor would he be granted bail. The magistrate said a file will be prepared and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Diaz was originally from Tucupita, the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Delta Amacuro. She was buried at the Navet cemetery after a funeral at the Armour’s Funeral home in Princes Town on Tuesday. The case was adjourned to June 12.