Businesswoman who ‘killed two ladies in Colombia with poisoned raspberries’ earlier than fleeing to Britain then leaping into the Thames seems in court docket
A businesswoman who allegedly killed two teenage girls in Colombia with poisoned raspberries before she jumped into the Thames has appeared in court ahead of her extradition battle.
Zulma Guzman Castro, 54, is wanted by Colombian police after Ines de Bedout, 14, and her friend Emilia Forero, 13, died in April days after eating chocolate covered raspberries laced with the deadly poison thallium.
She allegedly carried out the poisonings as an ‘act of vengeance’ following a failed affair with Ines’ father Juan de Bedout.
The 21-year-old brother of one of the victims and another teenage girl also ate the berries and were taken to hospital.
Castro – who appeared on Shark Tank, the Colombian version of Dragons’ Den – then jumped into the Thames near Battersea Bridge on December 16. That same day an arrest warrant was issued by Westminster Magistrates Court.
She was taken to hospital after being found by police in the Thames with non life-threatening injuries and was moved to a psychiatric unit.
Three days later a full extradition request was made by Columbia three days later.
She was arrested on 6 January by officers from the National Crime Agency’s National Extradition Unit.
Zulma Guzman Castro is accused of killing Ines de Bedout, 14, and her close friend, Emilia Forero, 13, after they died in hospital days after eating the poisoned sweet treat in Colombia on April 3
Castro appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today via videolink from HMP Bronzefield
Ines de Bedout (left) and Emilia Forero died days after they were poisoned by the raspberries
Castro appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via videolink from HMP Bronzefield with her hair in a large plait down her back.
She spoke to confirm her name and date of birth during the brief ‘call over’ hearing while sat at a table scribbling notes.
Guzman Castro refused to consent to her extradition when she appeared in court last week.
District Judge Nina Tempia remanded her in custody and said: ‘You will be back on videolink on 9 February. That is when the case management hearing will set out the furtherance of the case.
‘Do you understand.’
Guzman Castro replied: ‘Yes. Thank you.’
Earlier prosecutor Rosemary Davidson said: ‘Extradition is requested by the Colombian government on charges of murder and attempted murder.
‘It is an accusation case where extradition is sought for the purpose of a criminal prosecution.
The former Colombian Dragons’ Den star had a relationship with Ines’s father, Juan de Bedout (pictured), between 2014 and 2020
Zulma Guzman Castro drinks from a bottle of Buxton mineral water during an interview, which may have given away her location in the UK
‘The requested person until today has been subject to detention under the Mental Health Act. She was discharged from that today and police arrested her on the hospital ward this morning.
‘She was taken to Islington Police Station before being brought to court.’
It’s understood Castro came to Britain on November 11 and the National Crime Agency were actively hunting for her.
An Interpol Red Notice to find Castro was issued last month, with authorities warning the fugitive had visited Brazil, Spain and the UK since leaving Colombia.
Castro was discovered to be in Britain after she was seen drinking Buxton water in an interview with Colombian TV channel Focus Noticias.
