Havana Cuba. – Professor Julio César González Pagés published a post on your Facebook wall where he reveals new details about the femicide in Camagüey of the 17-year-old teenager Leidy Bacallao, killed with a machete by her ex-partner in front of several officers of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).
The crime has inflamed public opinion and revived the debate on the need for a comprehensive law against gender violence, a norm that is not foreseen in the Cuban legislative schedule drawn up until 2028.
The information shared by the academic ―also known for his close ties to the ruling party― is based on several testimonies from friends residing in the town of Camalote, who reportedly told him that Leidy’s relationship with her attacker, Elesván Hidalgo, began when she he was 13 years old and with the consent of his parents, who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Elesván Hidalgo joins said community to be able to ‘formalize’ the relationship and goes to live at the house of her sister (Leidy), who emigrated to the United States,” he explains. He also points out that the “wedding” was not done in a formal court, but was protected by the traditions of that religious group.
“The ‘union’ was hell for the girl Leidy Bacallao due to the constant mistreatment and beatings to which Elesván subjected her, who exercised control with toxic jealousy.”
Pagés argues in his publication that the girl returned to live with her mother, and that her father, also an emigrant, intended to take her to live with him. On the night of the crime, she recounts, “Leydi fled from the party (…) in the direction of the Police substation, where there was only one policeman on duty.”
He adds that Elesván Hidalgo challenged the officer, immediately killing the young woman.
Contrary to what is stated in the brief note released by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in official mediaand according to which the murderer would have received a bullet in the lower back, Pagés affirms that the policeman shot the assailant in the thigh, but could not prevent the crime.
