Man Gets 6.5 Years for Humiliating, Attacking Partner After Infidelity Discovery

A Paraguayan court has sentenced Rafael Ricardo Villalba Orrego, 30, to six years and six months in prison for domestic violence against his partner of 15 years. The ruling came after the woman discovered Villalba's infidelity, which triggered a violent confrontation on April 13, 2025. The incident, which reportedly outraged one of the presiding judges, involved extreme humiliation and physical assault.

According to the prosecution, led by Fátima Villasboa of the Specialized Unit for Family and Gender Violence, the altercation began with an argument. Villalba responded to his partner's discovery of his affair by smearing her face and hair with butter. He then proceeded to hit her, causing her to strike her head against a wall, while hurling insults. When the victim attempted to flee, Villalba bit her hand and later attempted to strangle her on the bed. He reportedly released her when she gagged, only to resume strangling her when she began to scream.

Villalba is currently under house arrest at the home of his current partner, who is the sister of the lawyer defending him. The court was presided over by Natalia María Cacavelos Conigliaro, with Gloria Amanda Hermosa and Darío Javier Báez Ferreira as members. The prosecution had initially sought a seven-year sentence.