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Héctor Paul Flórez was sentenced to 40 years in prison, of which he paid 18 years and 8 months – He obtained a reduction of sentence for good behavior and study in jail -. In an interview with EL TIEMPO, he assured that he receives with optimism the statement from the FARC in which he recognizes that he was behind the assassination of Álvaro Gómez Hurtado, a crime for which he was convicted.
He pointed out that he lost more than half his life, that he always insisted on his innocence, and that now he just hopes it will be recognized that he had nothing to do with the crime.
(We recommend: The debate that opened the FARC’s confession about the murder of Gómez Hurtado)
How do you receive the statement from the FARC (today a political party) that they were responsible for the death of Álvaro Gómez Hurtado?
Well, anyway what we are looking for is the truth, right? The truth, what happened? For me it is welcome. But in all the hypotheses that arise, I am going to be innocent. Because if the FARC say now that it was them, it is clear that I am not a guerrilla, I have nothing to do with them. I have no left thinking. What’s more, I don’t even agree with them. So that amplifies my innocence much more. As they declared that, from their point of view I am innocent.
When you were captured, how old were you?
I was 23 years old.
How many years were you detained?
18 years and eight physical months.
They sentenced him to 40 years …
Half of my life was lost. Completely lost. Even if one arrives in jail and manages to survive the length of time in detention; and there study and get ahead, even if you have learned many trades. A lot of time is wasted when one is innocent. Besides, being among so many people, this system overwhelms you. They want to influence you, they lead you to change many things. The whole environment changes you, your life changes.
(It could be of your interest: The surprising turn that the FARC confession gives to the case of Álvaro Gómez)
What did you study in jail?
I finished my high school. I studied mixed arts, painting, shoemaking, leather goods, costume jewelery, everything I could study, I did.
And before you were captured, what did you do?
I was an escort. She worked in private security, because she had just left the Army.
And your place of residence at that time, what was it?
Sincelejo, Sucre.
(We suggest you read: The Farc and the Gómez Hurtado case / Opinion)
What do you do today?
I survive with what I get. In these six years that I have been released from prison, it has touched me hard, very hard. I’ve been hungry, I’ve been living on the streets. I was left without my wife, without my daughter, I was left without family, without anything. I am living alone right now.
Everyone abandoned me. Both my family and my friends turned their backs on me.
In my family, they decided to have a life because they got bored of everything we lived through. Also, many times they closed the doors to me in many jobs. I would arrive at a job and it would take me five, six months. They hardly knew that I had been detained for the death of Álvaro Gómez, everyone told me you can’t be here, you are a dangerous man, even if you say you’re innocent and they threw me out.
Right now I’m working in Corabastos, when I can I go. I am going to carry packages because I have to eat, pay a rent on a room. I’m seeing how I can. My teeth have fallen out. Well, how many things have happened to me. But I’m still fighting, fighting for myself, not for others, but for me.
They hardly knew that I had been detained for the death of Álvaro Gómez, everyone told me you can’t be here, you are a dangerous man, even if you say you are innocent and they threw me out.
From his experience in prison …
Inpec transferred me to 12 different prisons. They dedicated themselves to walking me through all the prisons in the country. I don’t know why, today I wonder. And what I have been able to establish was that they wanted me to never know what the process was going on, or how to defend myself.
And that made the Prosecutor’s Office change the entire process, and although there was the evidence to declare my innocence, they never did. I always said that I had not killed Álvaro Gómez.
At that time, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the authorities knew that Lugo had lied, that there were coerced witnesses, and despite that, Héctor Paul was the culprit. I had already been tried without the need for a judge.
On November 2, 1995, where were you?
I was at the funeral of Samir Jesús Tovar’s grandmother. She dies on the first of November. I met him and he told me “Grandma died.” And I said, “Doña Purificación!” And I accompanied him. She died the first and the two I was with them. I knew that lady as since I was 8 years old. They were my neighborhood friends. I went to mass, all the time with them, what time was I going to be in Bogotá? If the assassination happened at 10:15 in the morning, 10 and 20, at what point would I be at it?
(You might be interested in reading: Gómez Hurtado’s family does not believe in recognition of the Farc)
And when do you get caught?
They captured me on November 20, 1995. They put the Search Bloc, General Rafael Martínez behind me. They sent the Sijín to Sincelejo after Lugo Álvarez’s statement, which was on November 16. In four days they decided that Hector Paul was guilty.
They put me on a plane and threw me to Bogotá, they did not carry out an investigation, they did not intercept me, follow up. They said was this, and voila.
And the day he was convicted …
I received the notification of conviction on December 22, 2002, I remained seated. On the 24th there was a visit to La Modelo and my wife and daughter were there. And I thought, they are going to condemn me for something I didn’t do. They are going to make me pay for something I didn’t eat. And I started to cry, what was I going to do for 480 months, that’s a lot of jail. My life stayed here.
I just want justice to recognize that he was wrong, to recognize that I am innocent.
And when he found out what the FARC said … he got emotional …
After such a long time I was surprised, I did not cry because I no longer have tears. Knowing that the FARC had an innocent detained for something he did not commit, they now reached the conclusion that they had to tell the truth, well welcome.
The same Gómez Hurtado family defended me, I did not know Bogotá. I met her now that I was free. I didn’t know anything, my wife was the one who had to take me up and down in Transmilenio. I did not know anything.
(For context it might be of your interest to read: Six drug lords summoned to testify in the Gómez Hurtado case)
Bitter experiences in jail …
I survived an attack. One day I was having breakfast in the high security prison in Palogordo, a man attacked me with a knife, wounding me three times.
At La Modelo, they thought I was covered with silver, that was in the first days, and they asked me for a million pesos a week, or else they would kill me. My dad got into debt, he was very worried, he got sick from stress, and looking for a lawyer. In the end he told me “mijo I can’t take it anymore, I don’t have money anymore, I have mortgaged the house”.
How long ago was it separated?
Three years ago. It hit me very hard, I tried against my life because my wife was a great incentive when I was detained. But since I couldn’t get a job, she got tired, I’d say now it’s my turn to keep this man.
You have thought at this time to sue the Nation..
I have only wished in my life to be declared innocent. Whatever money is, it’s not my priority. I just want them not to close the doors because I’m the one who killed Álvaro Gómez. I want to regain the respect of society, to regain my life.
I just want justice to recognize that he was wrong, to recognize that I am innocent. The Supreme Court in December said it was not reviewing my process. This was res judicata.
(You can continue reading: ‘If it’s true, tell the truth and show the evidence’: Landazábal)
ALICIA LILIANA MÉNDEZ
JUSTICE
On twitter: @JusticiaET
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