The oral trial against eight prison guards for the death of an inmate at the Unit No. 6 in Corrientes in October 2021 began this Monday with the arguments of each party and their opening statements. Two of the accused are in detention, while the other six arrived at the hearing in freedom.
In the Court of Trial No. 1, located in the Patono Building, judges Ana del Carmen Figueredo, Darío Alejandro Ortíz, and María Mercedes Leconte began the proceedings against eight provincial prison guards for the death of Héctor Ezequiel García, who died on October 13, 2021, after an incident at the Unit No. 6 Penal.
Victor Molina and Héctor Ortíz are the only ones in custody and are charged with torture followed by death, while Ramón Gómez, Ricardo Páez, Marcelo Alegre, Rubén Camaño Castillo, Francisco Gómez, and Lucas González are at liberty because they are accused as unnecessary accomplices to the crime of torture followed by death.
According to a statement from the Judicial Power of Corrientes accessed by the Argentine News Agency, authorities indicated that the trial will continue on December 16, 17, 18, and 19, and only seven witnesses will testify.
First hearing
On the first day of the hearing, the lawyer for two of the accused, Rodolfo Cochia, spoke and declared the trial null and void, to which all other defenders adhered. The same proposal was supported by the prosecution, led by Carlos Lertora, and rejected by the plaintiff, represented by Hermindo González, as the lawyer for the victim's mother, and Doctors Sofia Domínguez and Jorge Isetta, members of the Corrientes Torture Prevention Committee.
