Paraguay's Supreme Court revives femicide case, annulling dismissal of charges against brother

Paraguay's Supreme Court of Justice has revived the case against César Rodas, who was convicted of the 2020 femicide of his sister, Analía Rodas. The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court annulled a definitive dismissal previously granted to Rodas by an Appeals Court, sending the case back for further review.

Rodas was initially sentenced to 27 years in prison in February 2025 by a trial court for the femicide. However, in July 2025, an Appeals Court overturned this sentence and declared a definitive dismissal of charges. This decision was based on a finding that the prosecution and the initial trial had failed to adequately demonstrate Rodas's responsibility, with one judge noting significant procedural errors.

Prosecutor Sandra Ledesma challenged the appeals court's ruling, arguing that it suffered from insufficient reasoning. She requested the annulment of the appeals court's decision and that the case be sent to a different chamber for review. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the appeals court's decision was flawed and that another tribunal must now examine the defense's appeal.

The Supreme Court's intervention means the legal process for César Rodas is far from over. The case will return to a lower level for a new judicial body to analyze the appeal, potentially leading to a retrial or a different outcome than the initial dismissal.