QUITO.- Those accused of the assassination of the presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Ecuador proclaimed their innocence before a court in Quito on Friday. The crime, which occurred during a political rally in August 2023, continues to cause shock and put the Ecuadorian judicial system under the international spotlight.
Laura Castilloaccused of providing logistics to the gunmen, chose to remain silent while four other defendants denied any involvement in the murder. Carlos Angulonicknamed the “Invisible,” who allegedly ordered the crime from prison, defended himself as a “scapegoat” for a broader conspiracy.
The trial, which has lasted for weeks, has been marked by conflicting testimony and accusations of political corruption. A protected witness claimed the crime was politically motivated and financed by figures in the government of former President Rafael Correa.
The defendants’ defense argued that there were irregularities in the investigation and requested a review of crucial evidence that could change the course of the trial. These include intercepted communications between the alleged perpetrators and senior political officials.
The Comprehensive Criminal Code establishes a sentence of 22 to 26 years in prison for the crime of murder, but establishes aggravating circumstances that could increase it to 31 years. Prosecutor Ana Hidalgo presented her arguments during the day and assured that “the facts have been proven” for which reason she requested the court to declare Angulo guilty as the indirect author of coordinating the assassination, Castillo as co-author, and Ramírez, Flores and Chimbo as accomplices.
Hugo Espinlawyer of Veronica SarauzVillavicencio’s wife explained that the sentence requested by the Prosecutor’s Office for Angulo and Castillo could reach 31 years, and for the three accomplices it could be 15 years. In addition, a full reparation was requested based on Villavicencio’s life expectancy (77 years), and according to the income he received, which would be around 666 thousand dollars.
Espín sought a guilty verdict because “all the elements have been met to link the defendants directly to the execution of the crime.”
Political impact
Villavicencio, known for his career as an investigative journalist, uncovered several corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials and political figures, including allies of former socialist president Rafael Correa (2007-2017), including ramifications of the case of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. His murder, 11 days before the first round of the presidential election, not only shocked Ecuador, but also fueled the debate on the security of candidates in electoral processes.
Thirteen people were charged with the crime, including seven Colombian citizens who were also murdered in October of the same year —just two months after the assassination— in prisons in Guayaquil and Quito where they were serving preventive detention.
The trial for the Villavicencio murder, which shocked the country and the world, began on June 24, 2024; during its course, the Prosecutor’s Office presented 77 testimonies. With sentences that could reach 30 years in prison, the accused face a verdict that could redefine not only their lives, but also the political future of Ecuador.
Source: With information from AFP