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Trial for Teenager Accused in María Fernanda Benítez Case Postponed Due to Tribunal Conflict
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Trial for Teenager Accused in María Fernanda Benítez Case Postponed Due to Tribunal Conflict

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The trial of a teenager accused of the feminicide of María Fernanda Benítez in Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, has been postponed.
  • The delay occurred because the judges assigned to the tribunal are already presiding over the trial of adult defendants in the same case.
  • A new tribunal will need to be formed with judges from other judicial districts, as Coronel Oviedo has only one existing tribunal.

The trial for the teenager accused of murdering María Fernanda Benítez in Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, has been postponed due to a judicial conflict. The oral and public trial could not commence as scheduled because the judges designated for the tribunal are already involved in the ongoing trial of the adult co-defendants in the same case.

Fiscal Fermín Segovia explained that the situation necessitates the recusal of the current judges. Since Coronel Oviedo has only one existing Tribunal de Sentencia, the case will require judges from other judicial districts, specifically Caaguazú and J. Eulogio Estigarribia, to form a new tribunal.

Due to the initiation of the trial for the adults, the judges must necessarily recuse themselves in the case of the adolescent and send it for a new draw.

— Fermín SegoviaProsecutor explaining the reason for the trial postponement.

"Unfortunately, in Coronel Oviedo, we have only one tribunal of sentence. It should be formed with judges from Caaguazú and J. Eulogio Estigarribia," Segovia stated. The judicial coordinator of the Judicial District will be responsible for organizing a new draw to constitute the judging body. Once formed, the tribunal's president will set a new date for the trial's commencement.

Unfortunately, in Coronel Oviedo, we have only one tribunal of sentence. It should be formed with judges from Caaguazú and J. Eulogio Estigarribia.

— Fermín SegoviaExplaining the logistical challenge of forming a new tribunal.

The adolescent defendant remains in custody, interned in a specialized center in Villarrica. He faces charges for feminicide under Law No. 5777/16 and abortion under Article 109 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the trial for the adult defendants in the María Fernanda Benítez case has formally begun. Segovia reported that opening statements were made, and evidence presentation will start with witness testimonies. He acknowledged potential difficulties due to overlapping legal teams and the same fiscal team involved in both the adolescent's and adults' trials but assured efforts to expedite the process.

We have finally formally begun the trial with the reading of the opening statement. Initial arguments from the prosecution, the private prosecution, and the various defenses have also been made.

— Fermín SegoviaReporting on the commencement of the trial for the adult 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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