All Charges Withdrawn Against Guatemalan Minor for Fatal RTA
Gabriella Corales
Eight-year-old Gabriella Corales lost her life on the afternoon of June eighteenth, 2019 when she was ran over while attempting to ride across a pedestrian ramp on her way to school in Belmopan. The tragic accident happened on the East Ring Road where the Standard Two student was making her way back to Our Lady of Guadalupe RC School. To make matters worse, little Gabriella died at the hands of a Guatemalan minor who was illegally driving a sports utility vehicle at the time of the incident. The teenage boy, who was fifteen-years-old at the time, was charged with a number of offences, including manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and driving without a valid driver’s license. This morning, before Magistrate Johnelle Villanueva, the case against the minor was being heard. But during the trial, there was an unforeseen turn of events which has left everyone who has been following the matter, scratching their heads since Gabriela will get no justice. The little girl’s mother, Anna Ramirez, informed the court that she did not wish to proceed with any further court action against the accused driver. Ramirez’s sudden unwillingness to continue with the matter precipitated the withdrawal of all charges against the minor by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In court this morning were attorneys Hurl Hamilton and Hector Guerra. For context of what transpired last year, we revisit an interview that was conducted with the child’s mother.
Anna Ramirez
Anna Ramirez, Mother of Deceased [File: June 19th, 2019]
“It was my brother in law who called me and said that they need me to come to the hospital because Gaby was there but that is all they told him from the school. We didn’t know what was happening. She was crossing the pedestrian ramp, going home from school. He hit her on her bicycle. I understand that he hit the back wheel of the bicycle and threw her right off. One of the witnesses just said that she was almost out of the ramp when he hit her but she was still on it. We were told this morning that she had fractured in her skull. She had bleeding in her brain. She had three to five ribs that were fractured. Her neck had also been damaged due to the impact along with her lungs. It was like a severe one. They do have the minor in custody. He will be charged for manslaughter, I think that is what they said. I asked them to do something and just do what they need to do because this should stay like that. If it happened to my daughter it can happen to anyone else out there. This boy was very responsible as well as his parents because he should have been out driving a vehicle. Two individuals came while I was at the emergency ward, I was outside waiting and they came and they said that they had seen how it had happened. Yes, I was told that he was trying to escape but people along with other vehicle surrounded him so that he would stop. I had a plane ticket for her to go with me to Houston. I would do that as a surprise for her. And my friend who lives there she was already making preparations for her party.”
