Ecuadorian Court Sentences Perpetrators in Fernando Villavicencio Murder Case
In a landmark decision, an Ecuadorian court has handed down maximum sentences to the perpetrators involved in the assassination of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The sentencing comes nearly a year after Villavicencio was murdered on August 9, 2023, as he was leaving a campaign rally in Quito. The court's ruling follows a series of setbacks during the judicial process, but ultimately, justice has been served for the late politician.
Carlos Angulo, also known as 'Invisible', was sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison as the direct perpetrator of the crime. Laura Castillo, alias 'La Flaca', received the same sentence as a co-author. Additionally, Erick Párraga, Alexandra Chimbo, and Víctor Flores were sentenced to 12 years in prison each for their roles as accomplices. The court found that these individuals had cooperated with logistics and provided crucial information regarding Villavicencio's location on the day of the attack.
Calls for Further Investigation into Intellectual Authors
Despite the sentencing, Villavicencio's family and supporters are not entirely satisfied. They are calling for further investigations to identify and prosecute the intellectual authors behind the assassination. Villavicencio's widow, Verónica Sarauz, and daughter, Amanda Villavicencio, have both emphasized the need to uncover the masterminds who ordered the killing. The political movement Construye, which supported Villavicencio during his campaign, has echoed these demands, urging the authorities to ensure that the crime does not go unpunished.
The United States Department of State has also offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Villavicencio's murder. An additional $1 million reward is available for information leading to the identification or location of any responsible group leader. This reward remains valid as the investigation continues.
The court's decision included a fine of 1,000 basic salaries on the perpetrators and ordered the payment of comprehensive reparation of $100,000 to the victims. The accomplices were fined 340 basic salaries each and ordered to pay $33,000 in comprehensive reparation. While the sentences mark a significant step towards justice, the quest to find the intellectual authors of the crime continues.
- The State Attorney General's Office presented extensive evidence during the trial, including videos, telephone connections, tracking of places, genetic profiles, technical ocular inspection reports, police reports, chats and conversations, morphological comparison, and inspection of Angulo's cell. This evidence was crucial in determining that the murder was coordinated from Angulo's cell in Latacunga prison, a facility known for its high levels of conflict and criminal activity.
- During the trial, the convicted individuals and their lawyers maintained their innocence, insisting that there was insufficient evidence to link them to the crime. They refused to answer questions from the prosecutor, Ana Hidalgo, who argued that the coordination with the hitmen originated from Angulo's cell. Hidalgo highlighted that Castillo, sentenced as a co-author, was responsible for providing logistics and information about Villavicencio's whereabouts. Castillo was identified as a member of the Los Lobos criminal gang.
- Initially, 13 people were prosecuted for Villavicencio's murder. However, seven of them were murdered in two Ecuadorian prisons in October 2023. In February, a judge terminated the criminal action against the deceased individuals, as their deaths were confirmed by Ecuadorian and Colombian authorities. One defendant was also dismissed from the case.
