After three months of intense legal battling before the Belize Family Court to maintain the custody of Baby Nina, today family court magistrate Dale Cayetano ruled that the transportation of the 2 year old child from Guatemala to Belize was illegal and as a result she will have to be taken back to Guatemala. After an eight hour session that lasted all day, the mother of the child Ana Liz Guitterrez came out distraught by the ruling today. She spoke to us in tears- her worst fears now a reality.
Ana Liz Perez Gutierrez- Mother
"Basically the resolution made today was that Nina would be returned."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"I know this is the last thing you wanted to hear."
Ana Liz Perez Gutierrez- Mother
"Of course; I mean it's been three months of battle and ultimately we provided a very strong case. I must admit that my lawyer did a very good job at the end. At the end, it was the judge who needed to use his discretion and he believed that the removal was wrongful and so as a result, made the decision to have her returned. At this point, I've spoken to Nina's father and we are trying to do things now in good grounds for the best thing for Nina."
The child was removed from foster care yesterday and was placed in the care of social services. In the next few hours, she will be placed in the care of the Guatemalan Embassy. The child will then be handed over to Guatemala social services where the legal battle continues in that country.
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"From your conversation with Ernesto Barrera, are you hopeful that maybe you all will be able to work something out?"
Ana Liz Perez Gutierrez - Mother
"Well, he's already made his views towards me, towards what really happened. I tried to ask him what was his main reason for doing all of this and he had already created some kinda view in his own mind which I do not agree with. However, at this point it is useless that for me to go in and fight with him with something that he already has stubborn in his mind. So obviously my relationship right now mainly with my daughter being my main interest, my main purpose to be able to have a friendly and peaceful relationship with him until the courts in Guatemala make a final decision."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Earlier in the case, you had expressed concerns, even fear at one point about going back to Guatemala. Is that still the case?"
Ana Liz Perez Gutierrez - Mother
"Definitely that case always exists; I can't just discard it. Even though I have already started communication with the father, that fear will always remain because of the abuse that I lived being with them and of course because of the time that I spent with them and the thing that I know they are capable of. However, upon speaking with him, he says that that was never the case; that he and his family would never threaten my life, but at the end of the day that's what he is saying. But right now I am not fearful. If my daughter has to go to Guatemala, I'm gonna follow her to Guatemala."
Anna Liz expressed her reluctance to give up and says she will be preparing her legal documents to continue the fight for Nina in Guatemala. Gutierrez expressed her gratitude to all her family, friends and all other sympathizers for their support.
| 