A man has been arrested in the UK after his girlfriend’s body was discovered in a shallow grave while they were on holiday in Peru.
Jorge Alfredo Minaya Garay, 46, was held by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate in connection with the find and he is claiming he killed her in ‘self-defence.’
The body of Karla Xiomara Zelaya Godoy, 36, was found at Garay’s grandmother’s house in the district of Carabayllo just under an hour’s drive north of the capital Lima.
She had been missing since the end of September after the couple had been enjoying a holiday together in the country.
Peruvian Police has confirmed the mum-of-one, who was living in London with her self-confessed killer, was strangled.
Garay was arrested after confessing in an emotional plea to Godoy’s brother in the US Erick that he had killed her.
Glen Garcia Chavez, head of the Peruvian National Police’s Missing Persons Unit, said: ‘He’s saying they had an intense argument and she went to hurt him with a sharp weapon he described as a knife.
‘He’s claiming he defended himself by hitting her and she fell unconscious on the ground.’
Investigators are probing the possibility Karla’s body was moved to the spot where she was found.
He added: ‘It’s something that’s being looked into because we have to investigate what other places they have frequented and the possible transfer of the body.
‘Those facts have to be corroborated. It’s not enough to say I’m the author of the crime.
‘It’s something that has to be proven with all types of expert and testimonial evidence.’
Police in Peru are also said to be probing the possibility Minaya Garay did not act alone and had help burying his girlfriend’s body.
An audio recording of the murder suspect’s confession to Karla’s brother was played on Panamericana Television morning news programme ‘Buenos Dias, Peru.’
He says: ‘I’ve just called the police and I’ve told them I put it on land where my grandmother lives.
‘I feel terrible. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened. I don’t know why it happened. I can’t face seeing anyone.’
Confirming an arrest had been made, Kent Police said on Saturday in a statement: ‘Investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a woman in Peru.
‘With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Service, a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody in Kent.
‘Officers are working closely with the Peruvian authorities as part of this investigation.’
The police spokesman also appealed for anyone with ‘any information they believe can assist’ to contact them.
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