No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveCourt Said 9-Year-Old Mother Not Raped

Court Said 9-Year-Old Mother Not Raped

DESPITE DNA tests that showManuel Lopéz is the father of his 9-yearolddaughter’s child, born in October2003, a court determined in February hewas not guilty of rape.Instead, Lopéz was sentenced to 15years in prison for two counts of sexualabuse.After evaluating the results of medicalexams that showed the girl’s hymenwas intact “without breakage,” judgesdetermined what led to the impregnationof the 9-year-old was not rape becausethere was no penetration. The publicdefender argued the sperm entered thevagina from the vulva.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s New High-Security Prison for Organized Crime to Be Ready in 15 Days

Costa Rica’s new high-security prison for organized crime is expected to be handed over to the government by the end of September, with authorities...

Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Airport Keeps Highest Passenger Experience Accreditation

Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport has renewed the highest level of an international passenger experience accreditation, placing the country’s main airport among just...

Costa Rica’s CCSS Prioritizes Emergency Care on Strike Day

Costa Rica’s public health system has put backup plans in place for a nationwide strike called for today over problems with workers’ pay. Emergency...

Cartago Reverses Business Closure Order for Independence Night

Cartago has withdrawn its Independence Day business closure order, and the Security Ministry now says the decision was never its to make.

Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan retakes lead in race to head the UN

Costa Rican economist Rebeca Grynspan moved back to the front of the race to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations on Friday....

Chikungunya Cases Rise to 300 in Costa Rica as New Outbreak Hits San José

Costa Rica has reported 300 confirmed and probable cases of chikungunya so far in 2026, as the mosquito-borne virus continues to spread and a...

Rain Expected Across Costa Rica for Lantern Parade Night

Thunderstorms are forecast for the Central and South Pacific this afternoon and for the Caribbean and Northern Zone after dark, putting rain over tonight's farolito parades.

Jacó Beach Is Changing as New Residents and Major Brands Move In

For decades, Jacó’s economy has revolved around the beach. Surfing, hotels, restaurants, nightlife and weekend visitors from San José helped turn the Central Pacific...

AI data center planned for Limón sits on wetlands, forest and aquifer zone

Official records show the site of the proposed Quantum AI Free Zone Campus in Limón holds three registered wetlands, forest cover, flood-prone land and part of an aquifer reserve.
Avatar
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel