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An Ecuador court has convicted and sentenced gang members for the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The Attorney General’s Office announced the verdict on Friday, putting an end to a high-profile trial that has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead in Quito on August 9, 2023, just days before the national election. Videos captured the harrowing moments of the attack, showing Villavicencio being escorted to a vehicle when gunshots suddenly erupted. The incident was part of a broader surge in violent crime in Ecuador, linked to escalating tensions among rival drug-trafficking gangs. According to the Guardian, the nation’s murder rates have doubled between 2020 and 2022.
The trial hearings, which were conducted over eight days in July this year, featured a wide array of evidence, including 77 testimonies and more than 20 documentary pieces. The Prosecutor’s Office had filed charges the day after the murder against several individuals, including Carlos Edwin AL, Laura Dayanara CV, Erik Marcelo RP, Víctor Alfonso F., and Alexandra Elizabeth CF.
Carlos Edwin AL and Laura Dayanara CV received an aggravated sentence. Carlos Edwin AL was identified as the immediate author of the crime, while Laura Dayanara CV was deemed a co-author. Both were sentenced to 34 years and 8 months in prison. Additionally, they were fined the equivalent of 1,000 basic salaries and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. As per current standards, the basic salary in Ecuador for this year is $460.
Erik Marcelo RP, Víctor Alfonso F., and Alexandra Elizabeth CF were convicted as accomplices in the assassination and were each sentenced to 12 years in prison. They were also fined 340 unified basic salaries and ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution.
Villavicencio’s assassination was a significant event in a year riddled with political violence in Ecuador. The nation has witnessed the murders of multiple political figures, including Mayor José Sánchez and Mayor Jorge Maldonado earlier this year.
For further details, you can access the full report on JURIST.
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