Last Wednesday, August 14, Maria Elena Riosthe saxophonist attacked with acid in September 2019 in Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca, released news that has generated outrage and controversy throughout the country. A judge in Oaxaca, Jose Gabriel Ramirez Montano, acquitted Juan Antonio Vera Carrizalwho had been identified as the mastermind behind the brutal attack against her. This judicial decision allowed Vera Carrizal, a former deputy and local businessman, to regain his freedom after having been in preventive detention in the Tanivet prison for attempted femicide.
The judge José Gabriel Ramírez Montaño decided to acquit Vera Carrizal in just 20 minutes and two other defendants, Rubicel Hernandez Rios y Ruben Loaiza Chavezof the accusation of attempted femicide formulated by the agent of the Public Prosecutor’s OfficeIn his ruling, the judge argued that the social representation failed to destroy the presumption of innocence of the accused with the evidence provided, so he decided to acquit them.
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This decision caused the precautionary measure of preventive detention imposed on Vera Carrizal to be lifted, allowing her immediate release. The news generated a wave of criticism and reactions in public opinion, especially among activists and defenders of women’s rights.
Corruption won.
Juan Antonio Vera Carrizal has been released.
It took this corrupt judge 20 minutes #JoséGabrielRamírezMontañothe resolution. this is #Oaxacathis is #MexicoThis is the impunity that women who fight for justice experience.
Everything was agreed upon… pic.twitter.com/xpmfRpXXYR
— • 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios)
August 14, 2024
‘CORRUPTION WON’: SAXOPHONIST ELENA RIOS REPORTS ON RAMÍREZ MONTAÑO’S RESOLUTION
María Elena Ríos, who has fought tirelessly for justice since the attack she suffered in 2019, expressed her outrage through her social media. “Corruption has won. Juan Antonio Vera Carrizal has been released. It took this corrupt judge, José Gabriel Ramírez Montaño, 20 minutes to issue his ruling. This is Oaxaca, this is Mexico, this is the impunity experienced by women who fight for justice.”the saxophonist said in a message that quickly went viral.
Ríos’ reaction reflects not only her personal frustration, but also the widespread distrust of the justice system in Mexico, especially in cases involving gender violence. Her case has become a symbol of the fight against impunity in crimes of this type.
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WHO IS JOSE GABRIEL RAMIREZ MONTAÑO?
The judge Jose Gabriel Ramirez Montanowho issued the controversial resolution, is a lawyer who graduated from the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca, where he obtained his law degree in 2002. According to the National Registry of ProfessionalsRamírez Montaño has played various roles in the judicial sphere of Oaxaca since 2008, when he became a judge in the Jurisdictional Area of the Guarantee Court of Putla. Subsequently, he handled criminal cases in the Trial Court of the Judicial Circuit of the Mixteca, Huajuapan headquarters.
Over the five years in which Maria Elena Rios has sought justice, has stated on multiple occasions that Judge Ramírez Montaño acted improperly, re-victimizing her and manipulating information to favor her attacker, Juan Antonio Vera. These accusations have raised doubts about the judge’s impartiality in the administration of justice.
In an interview with the media outlet Pie de Página last June, Ríos accused Ramírez Montaño of denying his request for the trial to be conducted through a Collegiate Courtwhich was considered necessary due to the seriousness of the case, which involved an attempted femicide.
2024-08-15 18:55:25