Man Who Strangled Girlfriend Gets 15 Years

He strangled his high school sweetheart to death in a drunken rage two years ago, and yesterday Eliezar Dominguez learnt that being drunk is no excuse for killing someone. This evening Justice Michelle Arana sentenced the Orange Walk resident to 15 years for manslaughter. He actually pleaded guilty in October of 2005 for the manual strangulation of his girlfriend Heidi Itza in February of 2004. Dominguez was visiting Itza in Corozal when a night of what Justice Michelle Arana called love, passion, and alcohol resulted in her death. Dominguez told Justice Arana that he was drunk and never meant to hurt Itza. In a sentencing report, a couselor with the Human Services Department wrote that Dominguez broke down in front of him. Justice Arana thanked Dominguez for pleading guilty and saving the time but told him that he did take a life. In addition she noted that the additional bruises on the body aggravated the situation. The 19-year-old's 15 year sentence began last night. He was represented by Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson while Itza's family retained B.Q. Pitts.