Newcomers Club's Meeting
Guest speakers José Rojas, veterinarian, and Janie Kainrath from animal welfare group SASY, 9:30 a.m., directions at 2416-1111, 2265-1703 or newcomerscr@yahoo.com.

Art show by Eduardo Arguedas
Oils, through Oct. 24, Galería Dau al Set, Los Yoses, 200 m south, 125 m east of Subaru. Info: 2281-2260.

Recuperemos La Paz concert
Various artists, 9 p.m., Latino Rock Café, Barrio La Carlifornia, www.latinorockcafe.com.

Luis Fernando Burgos, a former public defender, committed suicide yesterday in his cell at Costa Rica's La Reforma prison in Alajuela, northeast of San José, where he was serving 35 years for the 2006 murder of his wife.

Burgos was convicted in late September 2007 in the strangulation of his wife, Maureen Hidalgo, a judicial assistant, in what was arguably the trial of the year.

The period for appeal of Burgos' sentence expired three weeks ago.

Although no physical evidence was ever found to connect Burgos to the murder, various witnesses came forward with stories that Burgos had told them he had committed the murder in the days following his wife's disappearance, and two men testified that Burgos asked them to help him remove Hidalgo's body from the apartment. Also, Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese received an anonymous tip, later revealed to be from Judge Elizabeth Tossi, that Burgos had committed the murder.

Most damning, one of the prosecution's chief witnesses, Zulay Rojas, a former state prosecutor and ex-girlfriend of Burgos, said Burgos killed Hidalgo at their Zapote apartment in southeastern San José on the morning of July 11, 2006, and then came to Rojas' house and discussed the murder.

Rojas waited nine days to come forward with information about Burgos' visit and was charged with withholding information in a homicide, for which she received two years in prison.

Burgos had accused Hidalgo of infidelity. The murder came within a week before the couple's one-year wedding anniversary.

In addition to his sentence, Burgos was ordered to pay $350,000 in damages to his wife's family.

The ruling was widely regarded as a significant legal decision in favor of women's rights in a country where the vast majority of domestic violence cases are never prosecuted.

A Ukrainian living in New York City was killed early Sunday at the upscale Villa Zurqui Hotel in a remote mountainous area in San Isidro de Heredia, north of San José.

No suspects have been arrested in the death of Mycola Krytsak, 49, said Gustavo Mata, chief of investigations for the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

OIJ spokeswoman Xinia Zamora confirmed Krytsak was with several friends, including his girlfriend, when he was killed with three gunshots by masked robbers.

The bandits entered the hotel just after midnight on Sunday, tied up the guards with electrical cord, before robbing hotel reception workers of their personal effects and an estimated ¢ 200,000 (about $365) from the cash register, according to the daily Al Día.

At that moment, two guests walked into the reception area to get firewood for their room. The robbers tied them up as well, took their room key and forced one of the receptionists to take them to the room.

When they arrived at the room, they found Krytsak and two women and began attacking all three. Krytsak was shot apparently as he tried to fight back. He died at the scene from wounds to the stomach, pelvis and sternum, according to the newspaper.

Representatives of the Villa Zurqui Hotel declined to comment.

Costa Rica taxi fares are going up this week by 12 percent.

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) last week approved a 50 colones ($.09) raise requested by the National Federation of Taxi Cooperatives, bringing the cost of entering a red taxi to ¢470 ($.85), up from ¢420. Each additional kilometer will now cost ¢430 ($.78). The new fares go into effect Friday.

Every six months taxi fares can be reevaluated to adjust for inflation, according to ARESEP. The last adjustment to taxi fares was in April, when prices rose 3 percent.

Last week ago, ARESEP rejected a 10 percent fare hike request by Taxis Unidos Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría, the orange taxis that serve the international airport in Alajuela, northwest of San José. Taxis Unidos has an exclusive contract to park at the airport's exit, but ARESEP would not approve a fare hike because the taxis lack meters and charge customers arbitrary fees determined in advance, the regulatory authority said in a press release.