The murder of Sofía Delgado, 12 years old, sparked a controversy about the benefits that currently benefit abusers and murderers of minors. The ghost of life imprisonment also returned.
DIARIO DEL HUILA, CURRENT EVENTS
The story of Sofía Delgado, the 12-year-old girl from Valle del Cauca who was kidnapped, murdered and allegedly abused by her neighbor Brayan Campo, has revealed serious failures in the Colombian justice system. Despite facing a trial for sexual assault of another minor, Campo enjoyed freedom thanks to the expiration of terms in 2019, which has sparked controversy due to failures in the judicial system and the lack of protection for minors in the country. This case has revitalized calls from those demanding drastic measures, such as life sentences for sex offenders.
Field: A Criminal at Large
Brayan Campo, 32, had a record of an abusive sexual act against a minor under 14 years of age in 2014, but was released due to expiration of terms. He owned a pet store in Villa Gorgona, Candelaria, the last place where Sofía was seen before her disappearance on September 29. Subsequently, Campo accepted charges of aggravated femicide, aggravated simple kidnapping and concealment of evidence. Furthermore, a day before, he had tried to kidnap another minor at his premises.
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Criticism of Judicial Failures
Voices of jurists and politicians have pointed out the cracks in justice that allowed Campo’s freedom. “How does a person with a history of sexual crimes with minors get free due to the expiration of terms?” questioned Gessica Vallejo, mayor of Candelaria. Criminal lawyer Mariana Botero highlighted the “absolute inaction on the part of the State” in not prosecuting Campo since 2018.
The delegate attorney for childhood and adolescence, Viviana Mora Verbel, described it as “unacceptable” that there is talk of expiration of terms in these crimes. Data from the Superior Council of the Judiciary show that, between 2020 and 2022, more than 100 people prosecuted for crimes under the Children and Adolescents Code were released under this figure.
Judicial Reform: Solution or Problem?
The Minister of Justice, Ángela María Buitrago, recognized the need to reform the system, although she warned that current criminal law does not allow judging without preventive detention or conviction. However, the idea of life imprisonment continues to generate debate. The governor of Valle, Dilian Francisca Toro, suggested reopening the discussion after the crime in Sofía.
A justice reform project presented by the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor’s Office in October has generated controversy, by proposing punitive reductions for those who accept charges of crimes against minors, in order to reduce impunity. The Alliance for Colombian Children has criticized this initiative, considering it a “mockery of the victims.”
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Is Life Sentence the Solution?
The life sentence for rapists and murderers of minors was approved in 2020, but the Constitutional Court declared it unconstitutional in 2021. Although some insist on reopening the debate, criminal experts such as Iván Cancino point out that more prevention and effective policies are needed, not life sentences.
The tragedy of Sofía Delgado is a harsh reminder of the failures in the protection of minors in Colombia. As the country debates reforms, it is clear that justice needs urgent changes to guarantee the safety and rights of children and adolescents.