Flamboyant festivities at Barranquilla Carnival were dampened over the weekend when a young woman was stabbed to death by her ex-husband after she refused to dance with him.
Twenty-year-old Laura Estela Torres Ortiz was stabbed during carnival revelries on Saturday night in the Colombia coastal city. Her ex-husband John Jairo De la Cruz attacked her with a knife in front of dozens of neighbors. The couple had two children together, and had been separated for one month.
Witnesses testified that De la Cruz arrived at Torres’ house in a state of inebriation and under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. De la Cruz tried to hug his ex-wife and get her to dance but she refused. He then pulled out a knife and began to stab her in the back, El Heraldo reported.
De la Cruz then tried to flee the scene but was stopped and beaten by the crowd which had gathered. Police later arrived and arrested him.
Torres died from her injuries. Her family revealed that the couple separated after numerous disputes arising from jealousy. De la Cruz had reportedly physically abused Torres on various occasions.
