In a landmark decision, the murder case against a courageous woman in Mexico, Roxana Ruiz, who killed a man while defending herself from rape, has been dropped. The incident took place in Nezahualcoyotl, an area in Mexico State known for its alarming rates of femicide and forced disappearances of women.
It all unfolded when Ruiz, who worked selling fries, had a drink with a friend from her neighborhood. As it grew late, he offered to walk her home and eventually asked to stay over. Although he slept on a separate bed, he suddenly attacked and raped Ruiz. Fiercely fighting back, she managed to defend herself, ultimately resulting in the man’s death, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution acknowledged that the man had been struck on the head and rendered unconscious, which they argued was sufficient for Ruiz to defend herself. It was revealed that in a state of panic, she placed the man’s body in a bag and dragged it out onto the street, where passing police officers apprehended her.
Despite informing the authorities about the rape, no forensic examination was conducted—a crucial step in prosecuting sexual assault cases, according to Ángel Carrera, Ruiz’s lawyer. Instead, the police dismissively suggested that Ruiz may have initially consented to sexual activity and later changed her mind.
Last week, the Mexican court handed down a shocking ruling, declaring Ruiz guilty of homicide due to “excessive use of legitimate defense” while acknowledging that she had indeed been raped in 2021. The court also ordered Ruiz to pay over $16,000 to the man’s family, as reported by The New York Post.
🔴 Por «uso excesivo de legítima defensa», jueza sentenció a 6 años y 2 meses de prisión a Roxana Ruiz, quien se defendió de su agresor sexual, el cual murió luego de que su víctima se defendió. Además, Roxana deberá pagar una compensación de 280 mil pesospic.twitter.com/KbO2N3WJ3P
— LupitaJuarez (@LupitaJuarezH) May 16, 2023
Amidst the verdict, waves of protests surged as the 23-year-old Indigenous woman and sole mother to a four-year-old boy confronted the distressing possibility of spending six years behind bars. Deeply worried about her child’s welfare, especially in the face of mounting death threats directed at her, Ruiz shared with reporters, “I long to reunite with my son, to remain by his side and witness his growth.”
However, a significant turn of events unfolded on Saturday evening (May 20) when the state Prosecutor’s Office released a press statement affirming that they had conducted a thorough examination of the case. Their investigation concluded that Ruiz was “not culpable” due to her actions being in self-defense, as reported by the Post.
While Ruiz’s lawyer had not received formal notification of the charges being dropped, he stated that this development signifies a recognition of her innocence and affirms that she simply defended herself.
This case has sparked a critical dialogue surrounding the treatment of rape survivors and the importance of proper investigations in such cases. It serves as a powerful reminder that justice can prevail and that self-defense should not be punished, especially in the face of horrific acts of violence.