Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Peru Grapples With Traffic Deaths and Crime as Trujillo Victim Dies and Pataz Hostages Are Freed

Prosecutors face legal limits on pretrial jailing in traffic cases, sharpening scrutiny of charging decisions.

Overview

  • Juan Martínez Torres, a 54-year-old guard run down in Trujillo, died Friday after five days in intensive care, and authorities signaled the driver’s case will shift to aggravated negligent homicide.
  • The accused driver, Maricsa Polet Alfaro, registered 1.84 g/L blood alcohol and had an expired license, details that raise the potential sentence and could change whether a judge can order pretrial custody.
  • The La Libertad prosecutor said preventive detention was not sought at first because the initial charge of negligent injury carries a minimum below the five-year threshold set by a 2023 procedural change.
  • In Arequipa, police said the alleged hit-and-run driver who struck photojournalist Heiner Aparicio surrendered Wednesday, underwent required tests, and remains in custody under investigation for negligent homicide and failure to help.
  • Security forces reported Saturday that a joint police–military team freed eight kidnapped workers in Pataz during “Operation Impact,” faced gunfire that wounded four service members, and found the rescued victims stable.