A ‘jealous bully’ who strangled his girlfriend on holiday after they argued about her ex-husband has been convicted of murder.
Jorge Garay, 46, wrapped the body of Karla Godoy, 37, in plastic before dumping her in a shallow grave in his grandmother’s garden in Lima, Peru.
The mum-of-one’s remains were later discovered by police and had to be identified by her fingerprints.
Garay admitted killing Ms Godoy but claimed he was acting in self-defense after she tried to attack him with a knife, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
But he failed to convince jurors who convicted him after a trial believed to be the first brought under Section 72 of the Domestic Abuse Act.
The law allows British courts to try people for domestic abuse crimes, even if they happen abroad if both people live in the UK.
Garay and Ms Godoy, who lived in Dartford, Kent, travelled to Peru on holiday on September 15 last year.
Ms Godoy’s family last heard from her on September 23, when she confirmed plans to travel to Spain the following day but never arrived.
In a two-page police statement, Garay claimed: ‘We had recently been arguing about her ex-partner, he was contacting and messaging Karla about their child.
‘This was causing Karla a lot of stress. She was suffering mentally because of this. I think she was distressed.
‘She was mad and angry about it.’
He claimed Ms Godoy had kept their relationship a secret from her ex over fears it could affect her ability to see her child, who was living in Spain.
But the court heard Ms Godoy had shared pictures of her and Garay in Peru on social media.
Garay said ‘something crazy came over me’ when he attacked Ms Godoy, strangling her with a piece of string or elastic.
He returned to the UK after the killing and was later arrested in London.
Late in the trial, jurors were shown a WhatsApp voice conversation during which Garay confessed the killing to Ms Godoy’s brother, Eric on October 12 last year.
Police in Peru discovered the victim’s body on the same day.
Garay sobbed as Mr Godoy urged him to surrender himself to police, telling him ‘It’s the only thing to do’.
Mr Godoy described his sister as a ‘really nice person’ and a ‘hard-working kind of girl’, the court heard.
Garay also lied to his landlord that Ms Godoy had remained in Spain when he returned home without her – and claimed he had been robbed of his money and ID.
Jurors took seven hours to convict Garay, who will be sentenced at the court on July 28.
Family members are expected to watch proceedings via video link from Spain and Peru.
Libby Clark, of the CPS, said the case presented many challenges with witnesses flying to the UK from Peru, Spain and Honduras, where Ms Godoy was originally from.
‘Our legislation gave us the jurisdiction to take on the case, although usually, the country where the crime was committed would extradite the individual to face justice there.
‘However, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 gives courts the powers to try a defendant in this country and we will always consider using those powers, particularly in cases of domestic violence, wherever it might have occurred.
‘Garay claimed that he killed Karla in self-defense during an argument after she came at him with a knife, but the evidence from those who witnessed his behaviour towards her suggested he was a bullying, controlling and jealous man.
‘The jury saw through those lies.’
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Lee Neiles, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, added: ‘Karla leaves behind a young daughter who now faces growing up without her mum and leaves a family without their daughter, sister and aunt.
‘Despite Garay’s initial confession to Karla’s family, he pleaded not guilty and instead chose to put her family through the ordeal of a trial, where details were heard that no family should have to listen to.
‘This was a complex case that involved working with international police forces, agencies and prosecuting authorities and I’m pleased we have been able to secure this conviction and hope it offers some justice for Karla and her family.’
