Seeking justice for her daughter's death, Irinea Buendía brings the first femicide case to Mexico's Supreme Court

The murder of Mariana Lima by her partner, a police officer from the State of Mexico, was the first to be described as femicide before the Supreme Court of Mexico. Behind the case is a courageous mother who never stopped fighting for her daughter.

Por:Univision

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When Irinea Buendía's daughter was killed by her husband in 2010, Buendía had never heard the word feminicide. That day, the policeman that had married her daughter called to say Mariana had committed suicide.

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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But Irinea never believed her daughter's husband, nor did she see any proof that her daughter had committed suicide. She knew Mariana was a victim of gender-based violence. In fact, the day before her death, Mariana had told her mother that she was determined to start a new life away from her husband. Here, Irinea holds a sign that reads: "I did not commit suicide. You killed me!"

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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Irinea began a long battle, seeking help from organizations and studying the law, all the way up to the Supreme Court of Mexico.

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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In its ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged there had been omissions and obstruction of justice and requested a new investigation into the case. That investigation found Julio César Hernández Ballinas responsible for the murder of Mariana Lima.

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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"I know that no one is going to give my daughter back alive," Irinea says. "But there will be justice because Marianita continues to cry out and not only her but all the women killed, because the only mistake my daughter made was to fall in love with a murderer."

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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Julio César is in prison awaiting sentencing. Meanwhile, Irinea participates in a group of mothers of victims also seeking justice.

Adriana Zehbrauskas

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Irinea's case is very emblematic in Mexico for two main reasons: it happened in the State of Mexico, which in recent years has seen very high numbers of femicides; and because the aggressor was a judicial police officer.

Adriana Zehbrauskas