Man surrenders after killing ex-partner in Yamasá

A man accused of killing his ex-partner in Yamasá, Monte Plata, surrendered to police in Cotuí on Saturday. Inocencio Belén, also known as "El Piñero" or "Rey," turned himself in and admitted responsibility for the death of Aurelina Valdez, a 29-year-old mother of three Source: hoydo. The incident occurred Thursday night in the La Colorada neighborhood, where Valdez was shot multiple times and her mother was wounded in the arm Source: elcaribedr.

The surrender

Belén voluntarily handed himself over at the Cotuí police station, along with a Smith & Wesson revolver and four cartridges Source: elcaribedr. He told reporters, "I didn't want to commit it," and apologized to the victim's family Source: listindiario. However, he claimed self-defense, alleging that the victim was with another man who pointed a gun at him, prompting him to fire through a window Source: hoydo.

Background and legal context

Reports indicate Belén had a prior arrest warrant from 2023 for alleged sexual assault of his daughter Source: elcaribedr. Friends and family describe the relationship as possessive, with Belén threatening to kill Valdez if she left him Source: diariolibree. The case falls under the new penal code, which for the first time defines feminicidio as a standalone crime, carrying a penalty of 30 to 40 years in prison Source: diariolibree.

What's next

Belén will be transferred to Monte Plata for a coercion hearing Source: elcaribedr. The victim's mother remains hospitalized but is stable, unaware of her daughter's death Source: diariolibree.