A 54-year-old woman, Zulma Guzman Castro, was taken into custody pending an extradition hearing for alleged murder and attempted murder charges in Colombia. Guzman Castro, who was arrested after an incident earlier on the same day, made an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The Colombian authorities seek her for her involvement in the death of two teenage girls who consumed poisoned raspberries.
During the court session, Guzman Castro, dressed in a black jacket and white-and-black striped top, verified her identity but declined to consent to extradition. Reports indicate that she was discovered in the River Thames near Battersea Bridge last month. Prosecutor Rosemary Davidson informed the court that Guzman Castro had a history of being detained under the Mental Health Act and was apprehended by the police at the hospital post her discharge.
Following an incident where a distressed woman was reported on Battersea Bridge, the Metropolitan Police responded and rescued Guzman Castro from the water. She was subsequently hospitalized, with assessments indicating non-life-threatening or life-altering injuries. District Judge Sarah Turnock ordered Guzman Castro to remain in custody until a case management hearing scheduled for Monday, January 12.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed the arrest of Guzman Castro in the W10 area of London by the NCA’s National Extradition Unit. She faces charges of murder and attempted murder in Colombia and is set to make an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later the same day.