Buenos Aires, January 19 (NA) – The Justice system rejected the requests for parole for the three thieves convicted of the murder of Lara Fernández, the 17-year-old teenager who was killed on January 1, 2022, during an attempted robbery in the Buenos Aires district of Lomas de Zamora. The victim's mother, Laura Fernández, spoke with the Argentine News Agency and confirmed that the Criminal Oral Court (TOC) No. 5 of the Lomas de Zamora Judicial Department dismissed the motions filed by the defenses of Alan Benjamin González Ávalos, Cristian Maidana, and Nicolás Strassera. On November 25, 2024, Maidana was sentenced to 20 years, González (also found guilty of killing the retiree Hugo Domato) to 24 years, and Strassera received 21 years in prison for the crime of aggravated robbery homicide with the use of a firearm and the involvement of a minor. However, the prosecution appealed, arguing it was a criminis causa homicide and requested a life sentence. In turn, Strassera was found guilty of attempted aggravated theft by scaling and aggravated robbery for being committed in a populated area and as part of a group. “With this decision, the hearing scheduled for February 5, 2025, under the 'periodic review of coercive measures' program, approved by the Buenos Aires Supreme Court through resolution 2298/23, must be set aside,” the document accessed by NA states. The magistrates pointed out that the risk of flight increases considerably and “freedom operates in favor of the possibility of frustrating the application of the imposed measure.” Laura expressed her relief but also her anger: “It cannot be that they request these benefits. Although the sentence is not final, they are in prison for homicide; there should be no such benefits for this type of crime.” Meanwhile, a fourth detainee known as “Martincito,” who turned 19 last May but was a minor at the time of the robbery (15 years old), his criminal process is in the Juvenile Responsibility Court.
