A 93-year-old Cambridgeshire mother's unwavering determination to see justice served for her daughter's murder is set to be put to the test once again, as a retrial commences this week in the Dominican Republic. Shirley Firth, who will mark her 94th birthday next month, remains resolute in her pursuit of conviction for those responsible for Lindsay de Feliz's death.
Lindsay de Feliz, 64, a successful author, was tragically found in a shallow grave near her home in the north-west of the Dominican Republic in December 2019. Her mother expressed both astonishment and relief at the development of a retrial, believing that new evidence may be presented this time around. Ms Firth fondly remembered her daughter as "clever, thoughtful, kind, and generous in every way."
Despite her advanced age, Ms Firth remains actively engaged in following the case, maintaining contact with some of her daughter's friends via Facebook. These friends reportedly shared information with Ms Firth indicating that Ms de Feliz had been living in fear for her life in the period leading up to her death. In a poignant conversation, Ms de Feliz had even told her mother on her birthday in 2019 that she did not expect to live to an old age, though she changed the subject when probed further.
The initial trial saw Ms de Feliz's husband of 14 years, Danilo Feliz Torres, along with his two sons and another man, acquitted of charges related to her murder. However, this acquittal was subsequently appealed to the country's supreme court, which has now ruled that a new trial should take place before a panel of three different judges.
Before moving abroad, Ms de Feliz led a successful life in the UK, working as a marketing manager in the City. In 2002, she left her life in the UK to pursue her passion for scuba diving, first in the Maldives before settling in the Dominican Republic. There, she worked as a diving instructor and married a local man in 2005. After being shot in the throat during a robbery in 2006, rendering her unable to dive professionally, she turned to writing, publishing two memoirs that gained considerable success.
Ms Firth reiterated the family's desire for closure. "We can't have closure until this whole thing is finished," she stated, adding, "I want justice for Lindsay as do her family and many friends across the world. It means so much to me to try all I can to achieve this." A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed they are supporting the family of the British woman and are in contact with local authorities.