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Peru court shows video of police escort that died during EU-LAC summit

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

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Lisandro Díaz (left) and Edisón Tejada

© El Comercio

59-year-old Lisandro Díaz Vigo, a Lima taxi driver and 38-year-old Edisón Tejada Bravo, a chauffeur for a tourism company, were immediately taken into custody after being accused by Peruvian police of being responsible for the death of Lady Anaya, a 22-year-old police officer riding with the Bolivian motorcade during the 5th EU-LAC summit.

A judge ordered their incarceration while their trial is held after police officers accused them of killing their colleague. A video seen in court on Tuesday may prove the men are innocent, however.

The video shows the moment when Lady Anaya crashed into the back of Lisandro Díaz' taxi after he braked at the intersection of Javier Prado and Jorge Basadre avenues.

Anaya, who had no previous experience being an escort, is then seen swerving into the street in an attempt to control her heavy motorcycle. She is unable to do so and abruptly hits the pavement.

The video then shows the Cóndor Travel tourism van that Edisón Tejada was driving as he swerves to avoid hitting Anaya. The driver then parks the van several meters ahead.

According to reports, Tejada had dropped some tourists off at the airport and had 1hr 45mins to get to his next destination. He affirms he was in no hurry - contrary to what police say.

Lisandro Diaz assures he is innocent because he was hit from behind and was obeying a traffic officer's order to stop his vehicle. Furthermore, the two people in his taxi have testified this to be true.

Their testimonies arose in court but were not included in police reports the day of the accident. The video does not show Tejada running over the police escort or the traffic officer's order for Diaz to stop his taxi.

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# mericorps says :
11 June, 2008 [ 15:29 ]

What a tragedy for poor lady and the innocent drivers.

And what a disgrace that the other officers lied to try and exact revenge for their grief.  They have dishonored Lady and their badges.

# Simon Walter says :
12 June, 2008 [ 08:09 ]

Yeah, I think it's a knee-jerk reaction by the police, and the media pretty much found them guilty: I guess, given the terrible way most people drive in Lima, everyone just assumed they were. However, if anyone's to blame it looks as though it should be the superior officer who sent what was apparently an inexperienced operative to do a job she was not really cut out for. As you say, a real tragedy. However, this is Peru and the police are frankly incompetent. Just look at the recent case of the policeman who killed not one but two of his colleagues as he was reportedly messing around with his gun.

# Monique Grüter says :
12 June, 2008 [ 08:36 ]

Living in Peru we know we are all "guilty" until we proof our innonce. It goes the same way when we have to make some papers before any public institution. What says our Constitution about?

# Splaktar says :
16 June, 2008 [ 02:03 ]

Wow that's really sad.  Everyone knows the police in Peru are understaffed and many of them completely incompetent.  But for them to accuse innocent people just to avoid the PNP looking bad is pathetic.  I hope the officers and their superiors invovled here are fired.

How many days have these drivers been stuck in prison when they are innocent?  What justice is there for them?  How much money and respect did they loose?  How were their families and their names damaged by this?  Did they loose their jobs due to these charges?

This is why living and driving in Peru is so scary.  Even in an accident where you are innocent, you can still be put in jail without proof.  Be careful out there, you or I might be the next one to spend days/weeks in a Peruvian prison for something you didn't do.

# Simon Walter says :
16 June, 2008 [ 08:07 ]

Splaktar said: "Be careful out there, you or I might be the next one to spend days/weeks in a Peruvian prison for something you didn't do."

Exactly. Look at the case of those innocent cyclists arrested in Larcomar recently. When the police finally admitted to themselves they had no evidence to charge them for theft, they tried to allege that they were drug pushers. Jesus! If the media hadn't got hold of the story they'd probably be rotting in Lurigancho by now.

# Simon Walter says :
16 June, 2008 [ 08:07 ]

Splaktar said: "Be careful out there, you or I might be the next one to spend days/weeks in a Peruvian prison for something you didn't do."

Exactly. Look at the case of those innocent cyclists arrested in Larcomar recently. When the police finally admitted to themselves they had no evidence to charge them for theft, they tried to allege that they were drug pushers. Jesus! If the media hadn't got hold of the story they'd probably be rotting in Lurigancho by now.