A 54-year-old woman, Zulma Guzman Castro, wanted in Colombia for an alleged murder and attempted murder case, has been detained pending an extradition hearing. Guzman Castro, who was arrested in London and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, is accused by Colombian authorities of poisoning two teenage girls with a toxic substance found in raspberries, resulting in their deaths. Refusing to consent to extradition, Guzman Castro, dressed in a black jacket and a white-and-black striped top, confirmed her identity in court. Reports indicate she was discovered in the River Thames near Battersea Bridge last month.
During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Rosemary Davidson mentioned that Guzman Castro had a history of being detained under the Mental Health Act. Following her recent discharge from the hospital, she was apprehended by the police. The Metropolitan Police reported an incident where Guzman Castro was rescued from the River Thames by the Marine Policing Unit after being seen in distress on Battersea Bridge. Although taken to the hospital for evaluation, her injuries were determined to not be life-threatening.
District Judge Sarah Turnock decided to keep Guzman Castro in custody until a case management hearing scheduled for January 12. The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed her arrest by the NCA’s National Extradition Unit in London. She is set to make another appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
