By Natalia Rueda 
The death of the Venezuelan artist Julieta Hernández Martínez in Brazil has shocked the entire country. The 38-year-old woman, known as “Payasa Jujuba,” was violently murdered by a man and his wife, who sexually assaulted her, strangled her, and set her body on fire to try to cover up the crime.
Julieta Hernández, 38 years old, was a member of the theater group ‘Circo di SóLadies’ in São Paulo, where she performed under the name Payasa Jujuba and she had had the opportunity to travel to different places in Brazil. She had been living in Brazil for 5 years and was well known and loved in the artistic community.
Julieta had plans to spend Christmas with her mother in Puerto Ordaz, for which she undertook a bicycle trip from Brazil to Bolivia. However, she never reached her destination and what happened on her way shocked the entire community.
Those responsible for feminicide
Thiago Agles da Silva (32) and Deliomara dos Anjos Santos (28) had reportedly tried to rob Julieta while she was on her bicycle trip. However, when the victim resisted, a struggle occurred between her and Thiago. In a moment of fury, he decided to choke her and then tie her feet with the help of his wife and then abuse her.
Once they committed this horrendous act, Deliomara decided to set fire to Julieta. She later hung the Venezuelan woman from a tree, causing her death, and then decided to bury her in the backyard of her house. Currently, both Thiago andare under arrest and now she has to answer for the crimes of hiding a corpse, robbery and rape. They are expected to be brought to trial soon.
The event has unleashed a wave of indignation in Brazil and also in Venezuela, Julieta’s country of origin. Numerous feminist groups and activists have taken to the streets to demand “exemplary punishment” for those responsible and demand an end to gender violence.