A court has heard how four British holidaymakers were attacked by an alleged serial rapist in a resort in Costa Rica.
Cristopher Andres Picado Ramirez is also said to have assaulted a woman from Argentina as well as two minors from Costa Rica.
Surfing instructor Ramirez is believed to have forced himself upon his victims at various locations in the resort region of Santa Teresa on the west coast of Costa Rica.
The 28-year-old was arrested in April 2022 after the four British tourists filed complaints with Costa Rican police, after which several other victims spoke up about their ordeals.
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According to Costa Rican outlet Diario Extra, the accused is a native of San Ramon, but is said to have moved to Santa Teresa to work as a surfing instructor several years ago.
Picado Ramirez is accused of attacking at least seven women in total aged 18 to 24 between 2019 and 2022. The British women who accused the Costa Rican of the attacks submitted their evidence at the Costa Rican consulate in London as the trial got underway in April.
But the court hearings were stalled last month when Ramirez, in a strange turn of events, requested that one of his alleged victims provide a character witness in his favour.
The woman, who was described as being his girlfriend when he was 24 and she was just 13, is being put forward as a character witness.
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Walter Brenes, lawyer for three of the victims, said he was "completely baffled."
He added: "In a hypothetical defence of myself, I would not offer a victim as evidence, knowing that the victim is still a victim."
Feminist and human rights groups held protests in front of local court buildings as he stood trial.
Judges were heavily criticised for releasing him on bail after he was arrested.
The trial is set to conclude next week.
