Murder Sentence for Former Presidential Candidate in Ecuador
On August 11, 2024, a court in Ecuador sentenced two of the five defendants in the murder of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio to 34 years and 8 months in prison. Three others were sentenced to 12 years in prison as accomplices.
The sentence followed an eight-day trial that concluded in July 2024. The court found that Carlos Angulo, alias “Invisible,” was the perpetrator and co-perpetrator of the murder, while Laura Castillo, alias “La flaca,” was his co-author. The other three defendants were found guilty of being accomplices.
The prosecutor presented extensive evidence during the trial, including witness testimony and documentary evidence, suggesting that the murder was planned in advance during the midst of the presidential campaign. Angulo was accused of giving the order to kill Villavicencio from his prison cell.
The defendants all denied involvement in the murder and claimed their innocence. Their lawyers requested that their clients be acquitted, while the prosecutor requested full compensation for Villavicencio’s family, which amounted to USD 666,000.
The court rejected the defense request to introduce new evidence, a video found on social media. The prosecutor argued that the video lacked validity as evidence.
The trial concluded with closing arguments from both the prosecutor and the defense. The prosecutor summarized the evidence presented during the trial, while the defense reiterated their clients’ innocence and requested their acquittal.