María Fernanda case: Testimonies continue to back prosecution's theory

Testimonies presented in the ongoing trial for the murder of María Fernanda Benítez are consistently reinforcing the prosecution's case, according to Paraguayan prosecutors. The oral and public trial against adults accused in connection with the crime continued on Tuesday, with several witnesses appearing before the Sentencing Court.

Fiscal Fermín Segovia stated that the witnesses' declarations have confirmed the elements outlined by the Public Ministry during its investigation. Among the significant testimonies was that of the mother-in-law of the primary suspect. This witness reportedly corroborated the information in the indictment and provided details about when the accused became aware of suspicions surrounding the teenager identified as the main perpetrator.

Penitentiary agents also testified, reporting the presence of the accused, who is the father of the teenager suspected in the crime, between May 26 and 28, 2025. This detail is also a crucial part of the prosecution's theory of the case. Segovia emphasized the Public Ministry's commitment to closing all avenues of the process, ensuring that witness, technical, and documentary evidence align to strengthen the presented accusations.

Looking ahead, Segovia announced that once the testimonial phase concludes, professionals who prepared technical reports incorporated into the case file will be summoned. These experts will be responsible for justifying and defending their findings before the court. Some of these experts have requested to testify remotely, a procedure permitted by current legislation and Supreme Court agreements, though the final decision rests with the Sentencing Court.