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Sentences due for five adults in María Fernanda murder case
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Sentences due for five adults in María Fernanda murder case

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A court in Coronel Oviedo is set to announce sentences for five adults involved in the murder of María Fernanda Benítez.
  • Prosecutors requested prison terms ranging from three to ten years for charges including incitement to commit femicide, obstruction of justice, and false reporting.
  • The victim's father is seeking 10-year sentences for all adult defendants, deeming the prosecution's requests insufficient.

A decisive moment has arrived in the trial of five adults accused in connection with the murder of María Fernanda Benítez, with the court in Coronel Oviedo scheduled to deliver its verdict later today. The trial entered its final stage as the accused made their final statements, with most pleading for acquittal while asserting their innocence.

Most requested their acquittal, alleging they had no participation in the investigated events.

— AccusedDuring their final statements, the majority of the defendants claimed innocence.

The prosecution has requested varying prison sentences based on the alleged involvement of each defendant. For Chiara Mikhaella Rolón Melgarejo, accused of inciting femicide, failing to report a crime, and glorifying a crime, prosecutors are seeking a 10-year sentence. The father of the main suspect faces a three-year prison request for charges related to frustrating criminal prosecution and concealing evidence. A pharmacy owner is requested to serve four years for his alleged role, while the parents of the main suspect face a four-year sentence each for filing a false disappearance report and endangering public transit, specifically for allegedly allowing their teenage son to drive a motorcycle.

The mother of the main suspect requested a minimum sentence of one year in prison.

— Mother of main suspectOne of the defendants' mothers made a specific sentencing request.

Leonardo Benítez, María Fernanda's father, has strongly contested the defense's sentencing requests, arguing that all the adult defendants played a part in the events leading to his daughter's death in May of the previous year. He is advocating for a 10-year prison sentence for each of the adult accused, considering the prosecution's proposed four-year terms for some to be inadequate.

The father of the victim requested that all adults be sentenced to 10 years in prison, considering the request for four years for some of the defendants insufficient.

— Leonardo BenítezMaría Fernanda's father expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed sentences and called for harsher penalties.

The judges presiding over the case have retired to deliberate on the extensive evidence presented during the trial. The court is expected to announce the final sentences at 6:00 PM, concluding a significant phase in the pursuit of justice for María Fernanda Benítez.

For Chiara Mikhaella Rolón Melgarejo, accused of incitement to commit femicide, omission of reporting a punishable act, and apology for crime, the Prosecutor's Office requested 10 years in prison.

— Prosecutor's OfficeThe prosecution detailed the specific sentence requested for one of the defendants.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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