A mum accused of killing two schoolgirls appeared to have inadvertently given away her whereabouts at the weekend, days before being rescued from the Thames. She denies the allegations against her
A mum accused of killing two schoolgirls inadvertently gave away the fact that she was in the UK, just days before she was pulled from the River Thames. Zulma Guzmán Castro is wanted by police in her homeland of Colombia for allegedly poisoning Ines de Bedout, 14, and her friend Emilia Forero, 13.
The 54-year-old, who denies the accusations against her, was thought to be in Argentina, where she was studying. She was wanted in 196 countries after Interpol issued a Red Notice.
At the weekend, however, she appeared to inadvertently let slip that she was in Britain – by drinking from a bottle of Buxton water while giving an interview. A few days later, she was rescued from the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in West London and taken to hospital. She is expected to face extradition charges when fit enough.
Castro gave an exclusive interview to Colombian site Focus Noticias last weekend, and afterwards, El Tiempo was among the first to pick up on the clue as to her whereabouts, reports the Daily Mail.
A source told the Colombian news outlet: “The bottle of water she drank from was Buxton Natural Mineral Water, a reputed product which is mainly commercialised in the UK, although it can be purchased online.”
Another Colombian newspaper, Semana, added: “Investigators made inquiries on the official website and found out from it that the bottled water is only sold in the UK and is supplied to physical shops and retailers based in that country.”
Another said: “This clue has enabled the authorities to temporarily rule out Guzman’s presence in Argentina where she initially fled, reinforcing the theory she is in hiding in the UK.”
The theories turned out to be correct when, on Tuesday just before 7am, Castro was rescued near Battersea Bridge.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 06:45hrs on Tuesday, 16 December to reports of a woman in distress on Battersea Bridge.
“The Met’s Marine Policing Unit recovered a woman in her 50s from the water at 07.14hrs and she was taken to hospital, where her injuries have since been deemed not life-threatening or life-changing.”
Colombian authorities have made a request to the UK for Castro’s capture, and it is understood a warrant was issued by Westminster Magistrates Court for her arrest earlier this week. When fit enough, she will be taken into custody and will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court for an extradition hearing, reports The Sun.
Castro is accused of arranging for chocolate-coated raspberries laced with thallium to be sent to the two schoolgirls, possibly as an act of vengeance against Juan de Bedout, the father of tragic Ines. She admitted to previously having an affair with Mr de Bedout.
In quotes reported by the Daily Mail from her Focus Noticias interview, she said: “Regrettably I was his lover for many years, more than six. The relationship with him was basically clandestine and we would see each other in my house or elsewhere in Bogota. Our relationship ended at the beginning of 2020.”
She denied any involvement in the schoolgirls’ deaths, saying: “I am a mother, and that must be unbearable pain, and I understand that for that reason they want to find the culprit and use all possible means to do so, but I am not that culprit.
“The strategy is clearly to completely destroy me before any legal proceedings, to destroy my image and give a version that would destroy me without any trial, without any guarantee of a fair trial at this time.”
In a previous statement earlier this month, Castro said: “I find myself in the middle of a very serious situation, where I’m being accused of having been the person who sent a poison that killed two girls.
“They accuse me of having fled to Argentina, and then to Brazil, Spain and the UK. Those who know me know I haven’t fled anywhere.
“They know I’ve been working in Argentina and began a masters in journalism here. I went to Spain more than a month ago, with a stopover in Brazil, and then to the UK.
“I imagine they’re accusing me because I had a secret relationship with the father of one of the girls. Public prosecutors have never informed me about any investigation and I sent a lawyer friend of mine yesterday to ask, because I heard rumours people were talking about me.
“The following day my name is in the media. I hope those that know me support me and defend me.”
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