Post date: Feb 22, 2012 11:55:2 PM
LIMA, PERU (FEBRUARY 21, 2012) (CH. 9 - Peruvian police arrested a British man Monday (February 21) nearly a week after his pregnant girlfriend was apparently thrown from a third story window of the Lima apartment they shared.
Peruvian police arrest a British man following the death of his pregnant girlfriend who died after apparently being flung from a third story window in Lima.
Family members say the Peruvian woman, Maribel Mendoza Riquez, was nearly four months pregnant when she died on February 13, the day before Valentines Day.
The only suspect in the case, British citizen Owen Arthur Goddard, said to have fallen after Mendoza, was put under police guard while recovering from his injuries in a Lima hospital.
The 33-year-old was later brought to the public prosecutor's office for questioning on Monday.
Mendoza's mother, Giorbina Riquez said questioning revealed Goddard was responsible for the death of her daughter and her unborn child.
"They say he hit her before and before hitting her he dragged her to the floor and threw her through the window. This is not fair, miss. I don't know what is wrong with this man. And they say that afterward he went down, he went down with mattresses, blankets, and he curled up with my daughter instead of helping her," Riquez said.
A lawyer representing Goddard, Fidel La Madrid, said his client was still recovering from the fall and does not recall what happened that night.
"I've spoken with him and he does not remember anything at all as to what happened. As I understand he hit his head" La Madrid said.