Justice is investigating the origin of a new fire at the Canarias hotel in the Barracas neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where three lesbian women were murdered and one survived in May of last year. According to sources in the case, the Criminal and Correctional Court No. 34 and Prosecutor's Office No. 15 are involved in the investigation.
The fire occurred last week on the first floor of the building located on Olavarría Street, between Montes de Oca and Isabel La Católica. It was extinguished in an area of 5 by 4 by 3.20 meters and controlled with a 38mm line. Luli Sánchez, advisor to the survivor Sofía Castro Riglos, filed a complaint about the incident, the destruction of evidence, and cover-up before the National Criminal and Correctional Chamber.
The legal team representing Sofía issued a statement denouncing the alleged destruction of evidence due to the fire. In the tragedy, Pamela Cobbas, Roxana Castro, and Andrea Amarante lost their lives, while Sofía miraculously survived.
The accused, Justo Fernando Barrientos, is charged with "aggravated double homicide." Although "hate crime" and "gender violence" were ruled out, aggravating factors for treachery and common danger were applied. Judge Edmundo Rabbione, initially recused, was reinstated in the case and later accepted the survivor as a complainant.
The investigation of the new fire has not yet determined its cause or the extent of the damage. The legal team expressed concern about witness intimidation and accused the Judiciary of not adequately protecting them. Additionally, they requested an inquiry into any connection between this fire and the destruction of evidence related to the previous crime.
The attack at the Canarias hotel last year was perpetrated by Barrientos, who harassed the victims for their sexual orientation before launching a homemade explosive into the room where they resided, resulting in the deaths of three women.
