Less than a year later, on 2 March , she was shot dead at home. Her murder triggered international condemnation which forced an investigation, and the eventual conviction of seven men — including hitmen, military officers and company managers, shedding rare light on the state-sponsored political violence and corruption in Honduras. She took her last breath in his arms.
The clock said Call Salvador! He tried again and again, but no one picked up the phone. The minutes ticked by. Berta has just been killed. Please tell Salvador. It was 1. The killers had left minutes earlier. He stopped at the police station. He arrived just after 2am. He parked in front of the house and sounded the horn, until Gustavo came out, clutching a small rucksack containing his passport and laptop.
His grey T-shirt was covered in blood, his left ear still bleeding. By then, military officers were on the scene. By daybreak, the crime scene was packed. Gustavo described the gunman: he was tall, dark-skinned, with short hair, big eyes, wearing a black top and white scarf. Yet when the sketch was finished, it looked nothing like the assailant. When the black-and-white sketch was published in the paper, its resemblance to Aureliano immediately drew attention.
Aureliano was arrested: the authorities had nailed a suspect and a motive. In Honduras, news soon spread that the murder had been a crime of passion. Tomas was pressured to make a statement without a lawyer. Berta was dead and now the state wanted me and Lito in jail, to leave Copinh without leadership. The crime scene experts arrived just before midday on 3 March, the day after the murder.
A few hours later the autopsy took place. They immediately called for independent international investigators to take charge of the murder inquiry. Berta should have celebrated her 45th birthday on 4 March. Instead, thousands gathered in La Esperanza for her burial service, led by two Catholic priests. Her spirit was helped on its way by traditional Maya, Lenca and Garifuna smoke ceremonies. Log In. Contact us Sign up for newsletters. Log In Register now My account.
